For those who have yet to be informed by now, Truth in Action 2.0 or #TiA2 is the theme for the CF in the 2013/2014 academic year, whereby we strive to actualise God's truth in action (and the 2.0 means that it is an extension from the previous academic year). The theme verse is the same as the last academic year, which is
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:18
As we proceed to the beginning of the final trimester of the 2013/2014 academic year, I think it is appropriate to reflect upon the theme verse and ponder upon our actions and behaviours for the past 2 trimesters. Therefore, this prompts for the inception of a series of sharing in parts regarding 1 John 3:18, and this post being the first of the series.
I will begin this sharing or discussion by talking about the last word of the verse-"truth". Pondering about the verse, if we were to have actions without truth, I think we cannot effectively exhibit love. The other way round is true too-truth without actions is quite meaningless either. Hence, if we must love, we must love with BOTH actions (or in deed) AND in truth. However, I believe it is very important to ascertain the essential truth before we can act out or even love "in truth", because the truth is like a map and compass to a believer who is like a traveller in this analogy. To act without knowing the truth is like to walk without knowing where or which direction to go.
Let us go through the earlier chapters and verses before the theme verse of 1 John 3:18 to get an idea what this "truth" might be. And oddly, we will start with how we could be not "in truth".
In the first chapter of the epistle, we are told that we cannot live out the truth if we lie by claiming to fellowship with God yet still walking in darkness (or not in the light, which is God (1 John 1:5)) (1 John 1:6), and this is done by deceiving ourselves to say that we have no sin (1 John 1:8). This tells us something about the truth, in which: 1) to be in truth, we have to acknowledge that we all have sin.
Now, in regards of the topic of sin, many of you would react to statement number 1 like this: "You don't say?". Unfortunately, there are many sorts of ideas that claim to be Christian which suggests that we believers, as of current, do not have sin. It is a very long story and discourse regarding this matter, but in brief, this sort of idea is obviously not a new one (and that's why John has to write this epistle), and that there are people who denies this very basic principle of truth that stems out of Genesis 3. Well, 1 John 1:7 says quite explicitly: "and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin", which indicates that we all have sin, such that Jesus Christ died at Calvary to clean us from all our sins. Denial of sin is one very vain form of self-justified righteousness; and that if righteousness that derived from the old laws would have Christ's death in vain (or for nothing) (Galatians 2:21), how much vainer is Christ's death if we justify sin and righteousness ourselves!
Furthermore, when we deny to have sin, we do not merely deceive ourselves, nor merely lie, but also calling God a liar (1 John 1:10), being in contrary with Titus 1:2. (P.S. In the beginning verses of Titus it also discussed about "truth" too.)
This marks the end of Part 1. In the next part we will be looking at the the mention of "truth" in the second chapter of the epistle, so do anticipate and wait for it. :)
Signing off,
Benjamin Yau
Education Ministry Coordinator,
CFMMU
P.S. This is my very first time writing such a sharing, so do give some feedback!
