Spiritual Reality

In 1 Jhn. 1:1-10, God would have us to function in spiritual reality as to life eternal, and fellowship with Him as our Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Christ, our life (Col. 3:4), was always obedient (2 Cor. 10:5-6) and always walked in love (Jhn. 13:1; Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Jhn. 4:17-18).

The grace of God in salvation (Eph. 2:6-10; Rom. 5:6-10; 11:5-6; 1 Cor. 15:9-10; Jhn. 1:16-17) soon yielded to human reasoning (see 2 Cor. 10:4), and so to legal conditions, even to the point to impair even the plenary forgiveness of sins and gradually make it the end for those IN CHRIST instead of their starting point.

This would leave them without a foundation (Psa. 11:3; 1 Cor. 3:10-11; Mt. 7:24-27); it would leave them without positional truth and leave them lost and hopelessly trying in their experience.

The spiritual reality is His grace does strengthen as nothing else can, under the Holy Spirit's teaching. (2 Tim. 2:1; Psa. 68:28; 2 Cor. 12:9; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 2:9-16; Jhn. 16:13-14).

Beware of legalism today, taught in the forms of covenant theology and lordship salvation! (See Gal. 1:3-9; 5:1-9; 2:16-21; Ja. 2:10).