Living In The Light Lane Series

Has Christianity been rejected by many based on a caricature which has been mistaken for the real thing? Perhaps! Yet, John calls us back home, to our foundation, to the fundamental matters of our faith. God uses John to help the church repair that which is broken, to correct the twisted caricature of Christianity.

Caricature: Primarily concerned with behavior

Truth: Concerned with character

Caricature: Attitude toward life is negative

Truth: Discovering the secret to the fullest life possible

Caricature: Based upon mere stories, legends, about Christ

Truth: Actions of God in history

Caricature: Goal is to produce a heaven filled with starchy, stiff, hymn-singing saints.

Truth: Produce love-filled individuals, homes, and churches

“Visible Christianity” Ray Stedman

The book of I John is about Christians experiencing completeness in Jesus Christ. I John 2:5 is a key verse:

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. (NIV)

But whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. (RSV)

I would hope that most of us desire to become better Christians. John wrote his letter to increase the believers’ joy. Those who are static in their Christian experience quickly become frustrated and unhappy. The following questions require more than a true or false answer:

• Do believers walk in the light? What about you?

• Does empowerment for joyful living involve confession? Are you empowered for joyful living?

• Do Christians strive for the ideal? What about you?

Harold Bryson said, “Christians cannot be happy remaining as they are. Christians can only be happy when they are becoming better believers.”

Question, How does one become a better believer? Several ideas were circulated in the churches to which John wrote:

1. Gain more knowledge–knowledge of esoteric, privileged, myth, astrology, etc.

Contemporary: Study religion, read the Bible.

2. Deny yourself–Asceticism, do without things to enhance your relationship with God.

Contemporary: List of things to refuse, give up—wasting away in closed off places.

3. Good deeds–The more you do the better you are.

Contemporary: Attend church, tithe, witness, etc.

Great activities flow out of an intimate relationship with Christ, they do not fabricate what is not already there. How then, do we become better believers? John reminds us that it begins by daily doing a “fearless and searching” inventory of our lives; doing this daily is a good practice. How well do we keep His commands? What do we see under the microscope?

? Sins of commission

? Sins of omission—what are these?

? Not Forgiving (Matthew 6:15)

? Failing to honor others (Romans 12:9)

? Failing to keep your Fervor (Romans 12:9)

? Failing to serve or give (Romans 12:9)

? Failing to live at peace (Romans 12:18)

? Failing to love God (Mark 12:30)

? Failing to love your neighbor (Mark 12:31)

? Failing to trust God (Isaiah 26:4)

? Failing to trust Christ (John 14:1)

? Failing to worship God (Deuteronomy 6:13)

? Failing to honor God (John 5:23)

? Failing to honor the Son (John 5:23)

? Failing to believe in Jesus (John 3:16-18)

? Failing to honor one’s parents (Exodus 20:12)

? Failing to give thanks to God (Romans 1:21)

? Failing to glorify God (Romans 1:21)

? Failing to fear the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:13)

? Failing to test new teachings by Scripture (Acts 17:11)

? Failing to discern and guard against false teachers and prophets (Matthew 7:15-20)

? Failing to learn and believe Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15)

? Failing to guard life and doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)

? Failing to repay debts (Romans 13:7)

? Failing to care for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:20)

? Failing to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15)

? Failing to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19)

A cursory reading of I John would lead some to believe John is simply reworking the same old stuff. We need to remember that he is not attempting to put new stuff in old forms. He is suggesting that the old commandment is, in some sense, new. May I draw your attention to the fact that the new, at least in part, points to the fact that God wants to put His will and ways into His new creation.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I. A NEW KIND OF EMPHASIS: OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST (2:3-5)

How do we know authentic Christianity? John’s instructions to the believers said authentic Christianity is verified by obeying the commands of Christ.

Here is a question that comes to my mind when I read this text: Do we not live by grace instead of law? If we live under grace, why then does John refer to obedience to commands? Is John advocating the establishments of churches that are legalistic, harsh, judgmental and filled with extreme fundamentalism? No! Nor is he advocating churches that fail to function by an ethical standard that sets them apart. What then is John suggesting?