In Step With God Series

Introduction: When I was a boy my brother Gary and I each had a horse. I rode an old grey mare and Gary rode a quarter horse named Ben. Ben had an interesting story behind him. Ben had been trained as a polo horse. His trainers trained Ben to do a very interesting thing. When a rider got off of Ben they taught him to remain by the riders side when the rider dis-mounted. Anytime you got out of the saddle and off of Ben he would follow you like a puppy. It did not matter how fast you walked or what you did, Ben would stay behind you. He would follow your every step. Do you realize, God created us to do a similar thing? He created us to follow his steps. Let me show you a Biblical text that teaches this principle.

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:6-7 NKJV) Notice the word walk is used twice in these two verses. John teaches us that a believer will keep in step with God. A believer will desire to walk with God. My goal is to help you understand what it means to keep in step with God. Look with me as we study I John 1 verse 5 through chapter 2 verse 6. These verses identify three ingredients of the person who is in step with God.

I. If you are in step with God you will have the right attitude about sin. In verse 7 of chapter 1 through verse 2 of chapter 2 John mentions the word sin 8 times. This gives us a pretty good clue that sin is an important subject in the life of a believer. What should be our attitude toward sin?

President Calvin Cooledge went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the preacher had to say about sin, and was told, “He’s against it.”...

(Contributed to Sermon Central by Joel Vicente) Besides being against sin, it is imperative that we have a right attitude about sin.

First, we should agree with God that we are sinners. The Bible says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) The word "confess" in I John 1:9 basically means to agree. We agree with God about sin. This refers to all people. Even believers struggle against sin. John confronted this subject because there were false teachers spreading false teaching about sin. Some claimed to have no sin. Another group claimed that sin was of no consequence. Either group had a bad attitude about sin. John’s premise is that the beginning place of being in step with God is to agree with God that we are sinners.

If sin were no longer a problem for a believer you would think God would pass over the subject. However, the opposite is true. God includes many examples of believers who struggled against sin. He does not gloss over this subject.

- Abraham lied to protect himself.

- Moses was overcome with anger.

- David committed adultery.

- Noah got drunk and exposed himself.

- James and John were filled with jealousy.

- Peter denied the Lord.

Illustration: A pastor finished his message early one Sunday, and he wanted to check his congregation’s understanding. So he asked, "Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?"

There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up, "You have to sin." (Contributed to Sermon Central by Dana Chau) All people, even believers, must confront their sin.

The difference between a believer and an un-believer is attitude. The believer understands that sin is a problem. The believer understands that sin separates and breaks our fellowship with God. The believer understands that sin leads to hurt and pain.

Not only does the believer agree with God about sin but he seeks God’s help in dealing with sin. God’s help is found in Jesus Christ.

(1) Jesus Christ came to pay the price for our sin. John calls him a propitiation (2:1). A propitiation is a person who takes the place of another. Jesus died on the cross to fulfill God’s justice and pay the price for our sins.

(2) In addition, Jesus Christ came to be the advocate for our sins. An advocate is one who argues the case and defends the accused. John speaks of this in 2:1.