The Nugget:
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
My Comment:
This Bible Nugget is a continuation from March 5, 2016, Daily Bible Nugget #406, 1 John 2:24. I have not posted much since then because I have been converting my Bible cross reference research into actual Bible software. I’ve never done that kind of work before, but it is a most interesting process. One thing the process does is catch any and all mistakes made in the nineteenth century resources I drew material from, as well as my own mistakes. The result should be a wonderful Bible study tool that is nearly error free. Most users would likely have to use this new Bible study resource for a long time before they encountered a printing error.
But I have been presenting an outline here from my high school days when I did a study of the book of 1 John using the Bible study methods I’ve explained in the category to the right, “How to Study the Bible.” My little outline from back then states that a true believer in Christ lives:
(1) in constant fellowship with God, 1 John 1:3
(2) true to the Gospel, 1 John 2:24
That was the subject of the Daily Bible Nugget #406 of March 5, 2016.
(3) with love for others, 1 John 3:18, 19; 1 John 4:7
John tells us that if we have genuine love for others, we will reach out to them and help them with their physical needs, 1 John 3:17. This is a major emphasis throughout the Bible, and as a topic makes for a rich Bible study, particularly by using Bible cross references. Let me share with you the cross references I have for 1 John 3:17 right now:
- whoso hath. Gr. echō (S#2192g). Present tense, active voice, subjunctive mood verb. *Dt 15:7-11. Ps 112:9. Pr 3:9. *Pr 19:17. Ec 11:3. Is 58:7-10. +*Ezk 18:7. Mt 5:42. *Mt 15:4-6. +*Mt 25:35. *Lk 3:11. +*Lk 11:41 n. Lk 12:17. Ac 2:44, 45. 11:29. +*Ac 20:35. *2 Cor 8:9, 14, 15. *2 Cor 9:5-9. +*1 Tim 6:17, 18. +*He 13:16. *James 2:15, 16. world’s. Gr. kosmos, +Mt 4:8. 1 J 2:17. good. or, goods, or living. Gr. bios (S#979g, Mk 12:44). FS111, Ge +18:27. The phrase includes all the endowments which make up our earthly riches, wealth, station, intellect. It has been finely said of a great teacher that ‘he was tender to dulness as to all forms of poverty’ (Westcott). Mk 12:44. Lk 15:12, 30. Lk 21:4. seeth. or, beholds. Gr. theōreō (S#2334g). Present tense, active voice, subjunctive mood verb: deliberately contemplates (see Vincent). Mk 12:41. 15:40, 47. 27:55. Lk 21:6. 23:35. Jn 2:23. 6:19, 62. 7:3. 9:8. 10:12. 14:17. 16:10, 16. He 7:4. Re 11:11. his brother. Le 25:35. +*Is 58:7. 1 Cor 16:1. +*Ga 6:10. +*1 Tim 5:8. 2 P 1:7. have need. Dt 24:19. 26:13. Ru 2:16. **2 Ch 28:15. Jb 31:17. Pr 14:21. Mt 6:2. 26:11. Mk 2:25. Ac 2:45. 4:35. 20:34. 28:10. Ro 12:13. 2 Cor 9:12. Ga 2:10. James 1:27. 2:15, 16. shutteth up. Gr. kleiō (S#2808g, Mt 6:6). Aorist tense, active voice, subjunctive mood verb. +*Le 25:35. *Dt 15:7, 11. Ps 77:9. +*Pr 11:24, 26. Pr 12:10mg. +*Pr 15:27. 17:5. 19:7. 24:11. 28:9. *Lk 10:31. +*Lk 12:15. %1 Cor 13:5. +*James 2:16. his bowels. Gr. splanchna (S#4698g, 2 Cor 6:12). Ge 43:30. 1 K 3:26. Ps 25:6. Pr 12:10. SS 5:4. Is 63:15. Lk 1:78. 2 Cor 6:12. 7:15. Phil 1:8. Col 3:12. Phm 7, 12, 20. of compassion. +Col 3:12. how dwelleth. ver. 1 J 3:15. *1 J 4:20. 5:1. Ps 125:4. +*Ezk 33:31. Lk 10:37. Jn 3:12. 5:42, 47. James 2:16. the love. +1 J 2:5. Pr 14:31. Mk 12:31. Lk 11:42. Jn 5:42. 14:24. 21:17. Ac 2:44. +*1 Cor 13:4, 5. 2 Cor 8:8. 13:14. Ep 1:15. +*He 6:10. of God. Objective genitive: love for God (see EGT). 1 J 2:5. in him. 1 J 2:15.
The fact that we have genuine love for other Bible believing Christians, fellow believers, is an evidence, John tells us, that we have a genuine faith in Christ (1 John 3:18, 19, 20), even if we may sometimes be in doubt about ourselves.
If and when we have real love for other Bible believing Christians, fellow believers, we have a desire to have fellowship and times of sharing with them about spiritual things. Unfortunately, in today’s culture, electronic devices have eliminated the ability of some people to actually talk face to face with others; sports, and other entertainment and distractions cut short the interest and participation in spiritual fellowship that ought to take place. I’ve gotten to the place myself that I am afraid to try to attend a church ever again. Churches are not structured for fellowship. They are not designed to develop personal relationships with other believers. They are not designed to foster spiritual growth. They are not welcoming places to be.
Why should I (or anyone else) bother any longer to try to attend a church when there is no provision within the activities of the church for opportunities to get to know the other people who go there? I say that, because I have found almost no churches since I moved out of the city of Detroit in 1975 who would welcome me. I’ve been actually shown the door, and told, “Find a church that believes like you do.” I’ve been told, “Jerry, you talk too much about the Bible, and too much about the Lord.” No wonder the Barna polls and research have shown in recent years that many Christians no longer attend any church, around 20 percent do not attend, and about 80 percent do. Mr. George Barna said if the present trend continues, it will take less than 20 years for those percentages to reverse so that 80 percent of Christians will not attend church, and 20% will. I have written much about this subject on this site. The church is in disobedience to the Bible. Particularly Romans 15:7.
Pastors and church people need to wake up. If church people are not interested in the Bible and not interested in Bible study, soul winning, prayer, and fellowship, and outreach to strangers who visit their church, then what makes them think they are even Christians? They don’t match the description I read in my Bible about what real Christians are interested in, and what real Christians do.
Excuse my rant, but this is very real experience with me and my family. After trying out half a dozen local churches, we’ve about given up. I am thankful for the opportunity to share my faith with other believers and non-believers alike right here, where I promote Real Bible Study, something many churches apparently not only do not do, but are not interested in.
Hi Jerry, I too would be interested in getting this when it is finished. Will this be a standalone program or work with other bible software?
I was saddened reading your closing comments on this post. Saddened because I too have problems with the institutional church. I had hoped my issues were a ‘sin’: that my lack of knowledge or some personal failure was largely to blame (and that may well yet be the case), but reading that someone such as yourself, so thoroughly marinated in the word, has the same problem leaves me feeling a bit more lost.
I’ve been a Christian for almost 45 years now, and have worked my way through several church traditions (CRC, Baptist, Pentecostal, and even neo-Anglican), all to no avail… yet I persist in my faith. God is gracious.
Of late I have (FINALLY!) grown to hunger for the word. I have obtained an ESV study bible and am reading it voraciously (I have 5 bookmarks). I have also gotten a copy of Erickson’s ‘Christian Theology’: I was reading a book called ‘God at War’ by Boyd, and some (well, much) of what he wrote there bothered me… but even after 45 years of being (an admittedly anemic) follower of Christ, I couldn’t formulate proper arguments. I need to learn my bible, and I need to learn the ways of theology.
Then I came across references to your work. Oh my. You are, of course, quite right in your contention that the bible is it’s own best reference or commentary… but from a standing start that is more than a bit daunting. Insights are valuable, no?
In any event, I am once again saving my pennies and will almost certainly obtain one of your much-lauded works.
And finally: thanks for this site. I look forward to working my way from the bottom up, as you suggest!
Dear Steven,
I am now just past halfway through the book of Revelation this evening, Friday, May 20, 2016. So I am almost done with the major task of putting my research into Bible software. Initially it will be available in the e-Sword software and will be available from the e-StudySource site linked there. Plans are to make it available in other Bible software programs also. It has been quite an experience for me to proofread the whole Bible and its cross references in just two months.
By the way, thank you for asking!
Dear John,
Thank you for such a helpful comment.
My two books are indeed now very expensive. It is worth it though to get them if you want to be helped in your study of the Bible.
I am nearing completion of my major project to place my newest expansion of cross references for Bible study in Bible software. I did the Old Testament in April. I am just over half way through the book of Revelation as of this Friday evening, May 20, 2016. So I should be able to finish the New Testament tomorrow, or at least this weekend. What I have just about done is to proofread the whole Bible and all its cross references in just under two months.
I am still hoping against all hope to find a church that will “receive” me (Romans 15:7). That must be a tall order, though. Denominationalism certainly works against anyone who has studied the Bible at length. And I keep my mouth shut, and make every personal effort to avoid controversy at any church I attend. But no doubt you’ve already read some of what my experiences have been with churches local to me.
Thank you for responding here. I hope you will keep in touch.