The Tests of Life and Light
1 John 2:1-28
Introduction
As seen from the previous two sermons Christians are called not only to redemption but to life in the light. It is a walk. It is the idea of journey that I would like to take up. Becoming a Christian is a call to discipleship – there is no choice – it is essential to faith in Christ to be an active follower of our Lord and Saviour. Since that is the case there has to be forward movement. The walk cannot be stationary - it has only two directions – forwards or backwards – we are either walking forwards or we are slipping backwards. Christianity is dynamic by its nature. The Holy Spirit is given to us for that very purpose.
I want to take up this analogy of journey and throw in a little bit of train imagery.
In looking at 1 John 2 we will note:
1. The Central Station of Life and Light 1 John 2:1-2
2. The Tests of Life and Light
1. The Central Station of Faith 1 John 2: 1,2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John writes to the church members ‘so that you will not sin’- ‘But if anyone does sin’ These two statements need to be held in balance. We can be too lenient and almost encourage ourselves to sin. Whereas, an exaggerated severity denies the possibility of sinning or refuses forgiveness and restoration if one falls.
God’s provision in spelt out in three:
Paraclete - verse 1a
Person – verse 1b
Propitiation - verse 2
All three relate specifically to Jesus Christ. He is the central Person / place we must always call in to when we sin or stumble. Our journey will have us call through this Central Station regularly – although our goal is to avoid sinning, it does not negate the glorious provision - the only provision - the central provision of Jesus Christ.
Paraclete
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father 1 John 2:1a
Our Advocate, our Paraclete (since the Greek word is ‘parakletos’. An ‘advocate’ was one that had favour with both parties. Jesus does exactly that. Jesus pleads our case before the Father. The double blessing is that the Father is also for us – it is sin that He opposes and this is where Jesus steps in. Think about the believer’s blessings – a Paraclete with us –in us and a Paraclete in heaven. The picture is not Love pleading with justice– it is more Justice pleading with Love for our release.
Person
Jesus Christ the righteous 1 John 2:1b
The Person Jesus is also called the Righteous One – this refers to His person – He who is for us is Righteous by nature and has purchased righteousness for us by His work. He is also the One whom we need to imitate – follow in the way of righteousness – in the walk of righteousness – in the journey of righteousness.
Propitiation
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Lastly, Jesus is our propitiation – the sacrifice for our sin. The Father and the Son together have worked a wonder of love whereby Jesus Christ has paid the price to eliminate the barrier of sin. He has shattered it, He has taken the punishment and He has paid the price. As Aslan in Narnia, so Christ on the cross. His blood is presented in heaven – no one can dispute the solution for our sins. The Son is the Father’s provision for our acceptance.
We have Jesus’ heavenly advocacy; Jesus’ righteous character and Jesus’ propitiatory death.
2. The Tests of Life and Light 1 John 2:3-27
All Christian profession must be measured and judged in relation to the truths of Life and Light. Seven times in the letter John uses the expression ‘we know that’ 2: 3; 3: 14; 4: 13; 5: 2, 18, 19 20 - this repetition is for the purpose of supplying tests to discern genuine Christians from spurious professors.
In 5:13 ESB translates the verse ‘Here is the test by which we can make sure that we know him.’
The passage gives us three tests
I. The Moral Test of Obedience 3-6
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Obedience is part of the test to go contrary is the act of a liar. We must imitate Jesus by walking as He walked. No religious experience is valid if it does not have consequences - Obedience to His word. We are called as Christians to conformity to His example as well as His commands – we cannot claim to live in Him unless we behave like Him.
II. The Social Test of Love 7-11
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Love, for our brothers and sisters, is a critical test of our profession and our walk. It is bound up in the new commandment – to love one another – it is old and new it is brotherly love and neighbourly love. The contrast of light and darkness
iii. The Spiritual Test of Love 12-17
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
John exhorts all within the church to hold on to great spiritual truths to press forward in their journey of faith. These spiritual truths – forgiveness of sins, v12; knowledge of God, vv13a, 14a; having overcome the evil one, vv13b, 14c; knowledge of the Father v13c; strength and the abiding Word of God within v14b.
Following these exhortations comes the spiritual test of love towards God as over and against the love of the world. If we love the world we fail the spiritual test since the love of God stands in opposition to the world its ways and its values, vv15-17.
iv. The Belief Test of Doctrine 18-27
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Here is a doctrinal test - denial of Jesus is the Christ v22. Jesus Christ is the centre, the heart and the substance of our faith. Anything contrary to sound teaching is antichrist. John is writing to protect the church from moral, social and doctrinal error. To deny the Son is to deny the Father
Conclusion
Let us keep sight of our central station
Let us walk worthy of our calling
Let us use the test of obedience
Let us use the test of love
Let us use the test of sound doctrine
Let us remember the church and its groups
Let us discern light from darkness, truth from error and Christ from the world.
