Christ Community Church, 410 South 14th Street, Reading, PA (2026)

06/03/2026

June 3
If We Confess The Son We Have The Father
1 John 2:18-23; Psalm 121; Acts 13

1 John 2:18-23 says, "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Matthew Henry says, "Every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ; and in denying the Son, he denies the Father also, and has no part in his favour while he rejects his great salvation. Let this prophecy that seducers would rise in the Christian world, keep us from being seduced. The church knows not well who are its true members, and who are not, but thus true Christians were proved, and rendered more watchful and humble. True Christians are anointed ones; their names expresses this: they are anointed with grace, with gifts and spiritual privileges, by the Holy Spirit of grace. The great and most hurtful lies that the father of lies spreads in the world, usually are falsehoods and errors relating to the person of Christ. The unction from the Holy One, alone can keep us from delusions. While we judge favourably of all who trust in Christ as the Divine Saviour, and obey his word, and seek to live in union with them, let us pity and pray for those who deny the Godhead of Christ, or his atonement, and the new-creating work of the Holy Ghost. Let us protest against such antichristian doctrine, and keep from them as much as we may."

The fact that it is the last hour is mentioned twice in this passage, which is meant to impress an urgency on all of us to cling to Christ and the truth in the scriptures about Him. There are many who deny Christ, and reject Him and His Lordship, and reject that He is God, and reject that He became fully God and fully man at the incarnation, and who deny the atonement He finished on the cross, and who deny His resurrection from the dead. They deny Jesus as messiah, they deny Him and so do not have the Father either. These individuals are lost, and yet they speak much religious language. They are antichrist's in a sea of antichrist's, and we must turn away from them and listen only to the Good Shepherd's voice, who laid down His life for the sheep. Many who were once with us, and in the church, are no longer with us, and were never of us, and this was proven because they did go out from the fellowship of those who walk in the truth of Christ. Let us confess with our mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, and we will be saved! If we confess the Son we have the Father also!

06/03/2026

June 2
The World Is Passing Away, So Do The Will Of God And Abide Forever
From C.B.
1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 120; Acts 12

1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Matthew Henry says, "The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause. The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it."

Many desire to get as close to the world as possible, and yet remain a Christian. But a true Christian does not love the world, but turns away from it, and flees from it like Lot should have fled from S***m. But we often want to turn and look at it as angels are dragging us away from it, and like Lot's wife, many turn to pillars of salt because they need to have another glance due to loving the world. May God give us grace to fight the good fight of the faith, and turn away from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, for these things do indeed decay the soul, and drain it of love for God. May God protect us from that!

06/03/2026

June 1
Little Children, Your Sins Are Forgiven For His Name's Sake
From C.B.
1 John 2:12-14; Psalm 119; Acts 11

1 John 2:12-14 says, "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Matthew Henry says, "As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have peculiar duties; but there are precepts and obedience common to all, particularly mutual love, and contempt of the world. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction. Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto; none are too old to learn. But especially young men in Christ Jesus, though they are arrived at strength of spirit and sound sense, and have successfully resisted first trials and temptations, breaking off bad habits and connexions, and entered in at the strait gate of true conversion. The different descriptions of Christians are again addressed. Children in Christ know that God is their Father; it is wisdom. Those advanced believers, who know Him that was from the beginning, before this world was made, may well be led thereby to give up this world. It will be the glory of young persons to be strong in Christ, and his grace. By the word of God they overcome the wicked one."

It is so good to know that we are God's little children, and that He loves us as such, and that we are forgiven for His name's sake! God writes to us as fathers, and says twice that we know him who is from the beginning. Older age gives us an experience of knowing God, and reveling in the truth that He exists and that He is from the beginning. God the Father has existed always, and from eternity past He has been enjoying communion with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christ was in the beginning with God the Father. It has been revealed to us fathers these truths, and we know him who is from the beginning! Thank you for enabling us to know you God! Young men who are converted to Christ are strong, and abide in Jesus and His Word, and have overcome the evil one. The finished work of Christ covers all of us children of God, and we are forgiven for God's sake!

05/31/2026

May 31
Love Your Brothers, Hating Them Proves That You Are Walking In Darkness
1 John 2:7-11; Psalm 118; Acts 10

1 John 2:7-11 says, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Matthew Henry says, "The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going."

We are to love Christ by obeying Him. And that means loving God Himself with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, but also loving our neighbor as yourself! Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is absolutely vital, and also demonstrates that we are in the truth and that we truly are saved and love Christ. If we say we love God and hate our brother for whom Christ died, then we lie and do not practice the truth. May God give us grace to love long and love genuinely from the heart, even those brothers and sisters who have hurt us in some way. May God give us grace to forgive them, and to love them from the heart. The darkness of hating our brothers proves that we have been blinded, and we must be aggressive in repentance and faith in Christ and to turn away from a bitter and hard heart that will lead us away from Christ. Thank you Jesus for loving us while we were yet sinners, while we were enemies, and for dying on the cross for us and saving us! You are awesome!

05/31/2026

May 30
Keeping Christ's Commandments Proves That We Have Truly Come To Know Him!
From C.B.
1 John 2:3-6; Psalm 117; Acts 9

1 John 2:3-6 says, "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Matthew Henry says, "What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going."

Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Here we see that if we say we know Him, but do not keep his commandments, we are liars, and the truth is not in us. May God give us grace to truly repent and believe in Christ, and to abide in His Word, that we might live before Him. If we keep God's Word, then in us the love of God is perfected! We ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Loving our enemies, and praying for those who have persecuted us, and loving those who have slandered and who insult us. We should be emptied of our pride at the foot of the cross, and cling to the cross and die daily to self in order to obey and please God. Thank God that the only one who has ever done that, His Son Jesus, had died for us and his blood and righteousness cover us!

05/29/2026

May 29
Christ Our Mediator And Propitiation
1 John 2:1-2; Psalm 116; Acts 8

1 John 2:1-2 says, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Matthew Henry says, "When have an Advocate with the Father; one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf of every one who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his pleading for them. He is Jesus, the Saviour, and Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is the Righteous One, who received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness. All men, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned."

The gospel of Christ when obeyed leads a man away from all sin. It also gives relief and peace to a person who has sinned, and does sin, for it reminds the sinner that Christ died for them, and also pleads for them as their advocate, their one mediator who is able to deliver me as a sinner from death. Christ is not only our ever pleading mediator, but our ever living sacrifice of propitiation, our wrath absorbing sacrifice, who has saved all believers past, present and future from all over the world from the wrath of God their sins deserve. Thank you Jesus!

05/28/2026

May 28
The Blood Of Jesus Cleanses Us Repentant Believers From All Sin
1 John 1:5-10; Psalm 115; Acts 7

1 John 1:5-10 says, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Matthew Henry says, "A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or in*******se with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin."

God is light. We as His children are called to walk as children of light. We are not to walk in darkness, but in the light of the truth and in obedience to Jesus. We once walked in darkness, we were darkness Ephesians says, but now we are light in the Lord. Let us walk in the light, as He is in the light, for if we do, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. Let us confess our sins, for God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you God for your complete cleansing from sin that you have done for us. We love you!

05/27/2026

May 27
John Heard And Touched And Saw Jesus!
From C.B.
1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 114; Acts 6

1 John 1:1-4 says, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Matthew Henry says, "That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness."

John the apostle who wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit touched Jesus, and seen Him with his own eyes, before and after the resurrection of Christ from the dead! How glorious this is! They saw Him and heard the truth come right off of Jesus's lips! Let us remember that what we have received about Christ and the gospel of grace, that Christ died for our sins according the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, was heard and seen by the apostles themselves, who saw Christ live and speak and die and rise and ascend to His throne. Praise God for the truth!

05/27/2026

May 26
Count The Patience Of The Lord As Salvation
From C.B.
2 Peter 3:11-18; Psalm 113; Acts 5

2 Peter 3:11-18 says, "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Matthew Henry says, "From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purity and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact and universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure or degree. True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth; freed from the vanity to which things present are subject, and the sin they are polluted with. Those only who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place. He is faithful, who has promised. Those, whose sins are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe and happy people; therefore follow after peace, and that with all men; follow after holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found at that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligent Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord. Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and shall he find us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who as yet delays his coming. Proud, carnal, and corrupt men, seek to wrest some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why St. Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be laid aside; for men, left to themselves, pervert every gift of God. Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood. But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are led away by error, fall from their own stedfastness. And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever."

Everything will be dissolved in the heat of God's judgment, and so we should ponder the fire, and live our lives in holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the day of God. It will all burn. The heavens will be set on fire, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn. But we are waiting for the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells. We are waiting for these things to come to pass. So let us be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. Let us count his patience toward us as salvation. And let us hold fast to the truth and see to it that we don't lose our own stability. May we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may he receive the glory both now and to the day of eternity!

05/27/2026

May 25
The Day Of The Lord Will Come Like A Thief
From C.B.
2 Peter 3:8-10; Psalm 112; John 4

2 Peter 3:8-10 says, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,a not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodiesb will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Matthew Henry says, "Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at his threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come, as the truth and the power of God can make it. Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of the Lord. Though, in the account of men, there is a vast difference between one day and a thousand years, yet, in the account of God, there is no difference. All things past, present, and future, are ever before him: the delay of a thousand years cannot be so much to him, as putting off any thing for a day or for an hour is to us. If men have no knowledge or belief of the eternal God, they will be very apt to think him such as themselves. How hard is it to form any thoughts of eternity! What men count slackness, is long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to hisown people, to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God. Settle therefore in your hearts that you shall certainly be called to give an account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil. And let a humble and diligent walking before God, and a frequent judging of yourselves, show a firm belief of the future judgment, though many live as if they were never to give any account at all. This day will come, when men are secure, and have no expectation of the day of the Lord. The stately palaces, and all the desirable things wherein wordly-minded men seek and place their happiness, shall be burned up; all sorts of creatures God has made, and all the works of men, must pass through the fire, which shall be a consuming fire to all that sin has brought into the world, though a refining fire to the works of God's hand. What will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, and make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burned up? Therefore make sure of happiness beyond this visible world."

God is not slow, but patient. He does not desire that any should perish, but that all might come to eternal life in Christ through repentance and faith. A thousand years is like a day to Him. The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. The judgment Day will come when Christ returns! Terrifying news for the unrepentant, but for those of us who have Christ as our Lord and Savior, that day will be a day of great joy, for we will see Christ return in all His glory!

Christ Community Church

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