Judith Dennis reviews 1, 2, & 3 John For You by Sam Allberry.
The latest addition to the helpful God’s Word for You series keeps the features of previous titles: non-technical language and no previous Biblical knowledge required. It assumes only that the reader wants to know what the book in question means and how it applies to life.
Questions at the end of each section reinforce lessons taught and contribute to the value of the book as a spur to Christian maturity and joy. The book is arranged in easily digested sections which make it suitable for personal devotional use, but can of course be read as a whole and used as background for leading a study. There is a helpful glossary which gives Biblical meanings of terms used.
Most of the book deals with 1 John, with the second and third letters being the subject of the final chapter. Allberry writes with a pastoral concern to increase the reader’s confidence in the facts and implications of the gospel: the gospel is based on historical facts of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection which demonstrate that He was both God and man. He came to earth to deal with the problem of our sin and was anointed by God and overcame the evil one. We can have confidence that God is at work in us by the dual tests of our desire for righteousness and a love for other believers. He challenges the prevalent idolatry of prizing romantic love and emphasises the Biblical priority of commitment to our church family. This theme is more fully explored as he deals with the more personal letters of 2 and 3 John.
This is a heart-warming, encouraging book, which nevertheless challenges the reader to keep making progress in the quest for full assurance of salvation.
Book information
- 1, 2, & 3 John For You, Sam Allberry, The Good Book Company, ISBN: 978 1 794 982 843, 141 pages, £11.99
