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1John by Theme

The Lighted Path
The Gate and The Road

1John 3:23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (KJV)

The lighted path consists of a gate and a road, each represented by a commandment from this passage. By believing in Jesus Christ we enter the gate of salvation; by loving one another we follow Christ in the Way---fulfilling His commandments. This two-pronged truth summary is similarly expressed in other verses throughout the New Testament:

Jesus said:
And he that overcomes [the gate], and keeps my works unto the end [the road], to him will I give power over the nations [the crown] (Rev.2:26)

Peter said:
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren [the gate], love one another fervently with a pure heart [the road] (1Pet.1:22).
When received by faith, the gospel truth purifies our soul and engenders a new birth into God's family as evidenced by the indwelling Spirit crying "Abba Father" with attending brotherly love among believers. In this verse, Peter exhorts believers to move beyond this 'baby love' to a mature fervent love. Click here for more about fervent love.

Paul said:
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness [the gate]; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [the road] (Rom 10:10).
If a mouth confesses the salvation within the heart and is then combined with the beautiful feet of Romans 10:15, the result is a light shining in the darkness.

James said:
..and I will show you my faith [the gate] by my works [the road] (Ja.2:18).
Those born by the word of God will show evidence of that word in works of love.