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In this audio talk, Winston Smith argues that authentic morality is simple enough that even a child can demonstrate it. In 1 John, we see there are three key elements to authentic morality: 1.) It comes from the heart – not a performance to be seen by others; 2.) It acts with genuine expressions of love; 3.) It calls one into battle. Genuine morality comes from the heart – it isn’t the product of a system of works – it is a Person. Authentic morality is about acts of love as a family trait – to look at Jesus is to look at love, when we look to Jesus, one of the first things we see is that love takes action.
Oftentimes, acts of love happen in simple concrete moments in life – we are called to love in the small things, not just the big things. Authentic morality is also tested in the furnace of opposition – Lastly, although we are called to be children of God, John reminds us that there is another family in the neighborhood: the enemy – Satan.
Key Scriptures: 1 John 1:1; 2:15-17; 3:1-21, 24; 4:4; 5:4