1 John 1 lesson by Dr. Bob Utley

[@fgbowen]

17:15 - yes. And thank you sir.

[@fgbowen]

21:00 - yes, agreed, BUT what you are saying is one side of a two-fold, 3 dimensional, real, and abiding subject - that of our responsibility in the lives of others. Clearly, King David (Yes, a man after God's own heart - but that doesn't mean sinless) - clearly, David was not a very good earthly Father. And why is that??? Because he had no adequate example. In fact, all the men surrounding him in his early years, not ONE of them treated him with respect, love, and nurture. The Christian world owes JONATHAN a HUGE debt of GRATITUDE. And we owe our DAD, our Heavenly Father, another HUGE thank you - because without Jonathan's friendship towards David, David would have Never known any real unconditional love from ANY male whatsoever. Jonathan was perhaps the earliest example and experience of God's love in David's life - Perhaps the Best next to God Himself - perHAPS...even the ONLY experience. (Forgive my verbosity) - David was Such a good man, and he was also a good boy. If he had been MY son, my heart would have just beamed every day - and the same goes for his brothers too - I would have taught Them to be men of Love, Compassion, and character - But I WOULD'nt have been able to do that, certainly, without God, the one and only, true and living God, who is forever Praised, Amen. (And Thank you Jesus Christ for making it possible for us to be called the children of God). My main thought was (though) that part of our "sin" (missing the mark) is that we do not do in the lives of OTHERS what they often need. And in the case of Children - not "training them in the way they should go" properly (as we are charged to do) most often leads them into paths and decisions which are sinful. "Fault" is perhaps academic here. Because in fact we are ALL to blame. We are ALL sinners - in our lives, and in the lives of those that surround us. Yes, it is true that each man's "sin" is his own - his actions are his own. But that does NOT negate the importance of such things as... influence, manipulation, coercion, deception, and Training (which might too often better be described as indoctrination or brainwashing!)