1, 2, 3 John

The letters of 1-3 John are valuable to the contemporary church. The author reminds us of the nonnegotiable centrality of following Jesus' commandment to love one another, even if he may not have embodied that love perfectly. In this respect, he reminds us to avoid the temptation to resort to name-calling in tense situations, even if his behavior as writer is a negative reminder.

At the same time, he knows there are theological issues and times when a church must draw a line. In these situations he reminds us of the importance of discernment and relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit. He humbles us when he reminds us we cannot deny the power of sin in our lives, and he reassures us we are still children of God when sin is evident. Ultimately he sets out the fundamentals of the faith for us when he writes, And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another.