3 Principles Of Perseverance

Title: “3 Principles for Perseverance” Script: I Jn. 2:18-27

Type: Expository Where: GNBC 6-30-24

Intro: For a variety of reasons, Andrew Jackson is in my top 5 favorite US Presidents. The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, wasn’t only smarter but he could throw Andy 3x out of 4 in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a 4th time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat—he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andy would throw him and be the winner.” Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are ‘throwed,’ but whether you are willing to stay ‘throwed.’” As Christians we will face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then, through the Holy Spirit’s power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord’s, so there is no excuse for us to stay “throwed”.

Prop: In I Jn. 2:18-27 we’ll examine 3 Principles for the Persevering Christian.

BG: 1. I Jn. neither begins nor ends like an Epistle. Doesn’t begin with an indication of the writer or the people to whom he is writing; neither does the letter end with any personal greetings.

2. In form and content, this letter is a message of encouragement to a group of Christians who were perplexed and bewildered by recent events in their midst.

3.

Prop: Follow w/me in I Jn. 2:18-27 as we examine 3 Principles for the Persevering Christian.

I. 1st Principle: Honor the Hour. Vv.18-19, 22-23

A. The 1st Principle for Perseverance is to make sure to Honor the Hour.

1. What do I mean by saying the Christian needs to honor the hour?

a. Illust: The year I was a senior in college was the bicentennial of the US Constitution being written (1787). I was shocked to receive an invitation to a private luncheon with former President Ford, who was a leading Constitutional scholar. The luncheon was held in a private section of a very nice restaurant. Besides the President and two SS personnel, there were two professors and one grad student and myself. I have saved the invitation. It was a large notice on card stock. It announced the purpose, location, dress code, and time of the meeting. “Begins promptly at 11 am.” When one inserts “promptly”, it is stating the meeting is important. Pay attention to the time. Honor the hour! Everything I did that morning was focused on being to that meeting by 10:45 am!

b. V.18 – 2x John states: “It is the last hour”. What does he mean by this? Some people think, “Wait, if 1900 yrs ago was the “last hour”, then is God asleep at the wheel or did John get it wrong? No and No! I believe this is a statement of Eschatology and not Chronology. This has to do with God’s redemptive plan for the ages. Think of this phrase as you would “last days”, meaning the approaching terminus plan.

2. Notice how Affectionately John Addresses his audience.

a. John refers to his readers here as his “children” – paidia – The believers were special to the elderly apostle. He loved them and was warning them against the dangers of false teachers that were end-time antiChrists. Any good parent warns children against potential dangers and grandparents make it a calling!

b. John is warning his audience against both the end time AntiChrist (Rev. 13:1-10) but also against the many antiChrists who have been present in every era of Church history as false teachers or overt opponents to the Gospel of Grace. Friend, the spirit of AntiChrist is active in everyone who promotes false doctrine and preaches against the Saving Grace of God in Jesus Christ alone!

c. Although Satan is very powerful he is not omnipotent. Although he is very cunning, he is not omniscient. He knows there is a coming culmination of the plan of God. I believe that in light of this, he has an AntiChrist figure in the wings of every era. Certainly the Church has believed this throughout history. However, God alone knows the who, when, and where. But even now the spirit of AntiChrist is in the world. Beware!

B. What Must We Do to “Honor the Hour”?

1. Recognize the Dangers of the Hour.