This morning we come to one of the most difficult, controversial passages in 1 John.

This passage is not about who has eternal life and who doesn’t, but it is about who is living out of the resources that eternal life has given us.

This passage is not about who is going to heaven and who is not, but it is about who is living in the power that heaven offers us and who isn’t.

This passage is not about who belongs to God and who belongs to the devil, but it is about who is being empowered by God and who is being inspired by the devil.

This is a passage about what it means to be a branch that is bearing the fruit of the one who is the Vine.

This passage can help the church to realize anew just how horribly sinful sin really is, while at the same time living in the joyful confidence of knowing that Jesus is who he said he is and he did what he said he would do.