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Always Display Love and FaithThe Watchtower—1986 | July 15
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22. Who “does not fasten his hold” on a loyal Christian, and for what can such a person pray with confidence?
22 John now summarizes basic points in his letter. (Read 1 John 5:18-21.) Everyone “born from God” as a spirit-anointed Christian “does not practice sin.” Jesus Christ, “the One born from God” by holy spirit, “watches him, and the wicked one [Satan] does not fasten his hold on him.” Such a loyal anointed Christian can pray confidently for deliverance from the wicked one and can, with “the large shield of faith,” escape spiritual harm from Satan’s “burning missiles.”—Matthew 6:13; Ephesians 6:16.
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Always Display Love and FaithThe Watchtower—1986 | July 15
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25. As Christians, how can we apply the counsel at 1 John 5:21?
25 Those in union with the true God, Jehovah, whether of the anointed remnant or of the “other sheep,” wish to please him in every way. But temptations to engage in idolatry existed in the first century, even as they do today. So John fittingly ends his letter with the fatherly counsel: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” As Christians, we do not bow before images. (Exodus 20:4-6) We also know that it would be wrong to put ourselves, pleasure, or anything else in place of God. (2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 4) And our dedication to him precludes our worshiping the political “wild beast” and its “image.” (Revelation 13:14-18; 14:9-12) So with a view to pleasing our heavenly Father and receiving his gift of eternal life, let us be resolute in our determination to avoid all idolatry, never allowing it to destroy our precious relationship with Jehovah through Jesus Christ.
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