Stroll through Scripture for Sunday June 23, 2024

Based on 1 John 1:1–2:2

According to the Lutheran Study Bible, Martin Luther said this about 1 John: “This is an outstanding epistle…so beautifully and gently does it picture Christ to us.” (pg. 2012)

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to be diving into 1 John and looking at the letter more in depth. The Lutheran Study Bible reminds us that there are three main points to the letter. First, “Jesus offered himself as the ‘atoning sacrifice’ for human sin.” Second, it argues that Jesus was fully human as well as spiritual. Third, “the writer insists that the words and actions of believers must go together.” (Pg. 2012–3).

That third one could be repeated multiple times every day and I think humanity would still either ignore it or make new excuses for why it isn’t happening. There’s a whole lot that can said about this last point, that I’ll hold off on for now.

For this week’s reading we are looking at the opening of 1 John. The first paragraph is full of declarations about Jesus. It jumps right into the argument. And I love verse four where it is stating — “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” It is proclamation not with intent to convince or persuade, but in order to state fully what is believed and how it impacts the writer. It’s like saying — What you do with it is up to you. As for us, we’re thrilled.

The second paragraph is about confession — a different form of proclamation. This paragraph…