We are turning to 1st John today, the first epistle of John, and I will explain to you why we are after we read the first chapter and 3 verses of the 2nd chapter, and after I pray…
Let’s pray…I read an article recently that grabbed my attention, but really introduced me to what unfortunately I already new…
The Pulpit & Pen- New Barna Poll: The Christian Church is Seriously Messed up.
August 12, 2020.
A new poll last week released by George Barna’s Cultural Research Center shows that professing Christians are developing more and more decidedly unchristian beliefs, demonstrating that many of these professing Christians are in fact un-professing pagans.
As I looked at that poll directly the pollster George Barna said within it this:
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center -Released: August 4, 2020
Just Have Faith -The context for the changing views on faith in America is exemplified by the fact that almost two out of every three adults (63%) say that having some type of religious faith is more important than which faith a person aligns with. Shockingly, a large majority of people who describe themselves as Christians (68%) embrace that idea, including those who attend evangelical (56%) and Pentecostal (62%) churches.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE – IT ONLY MATTERS THAT YOU SINCERELY BELIEVE SOMETHING!
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center -Released: August 4, 2020
The Irrelevance of Sin -Concern about personal sin is on the wane in the United States. Even though seven out of ten adults claim to be Christian…, only slightly more than half of U.S. adults (56%) say they consciously and consistently attempt to avoid sinning because they know it offends God.
IN OTHER WORD’S, IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOU LIVE – AS LONG AS YOU SINCERELHY BELIEVE SOMETHING!
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center -Released: August 4, 2020
Other widely held views identified in the American Worldview Inventory 2020 that are at odds with biblical teaching.
• there is no absolute moral truth (58%);
• right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible (77%);
• the Bible is not the authoritative and true word of God (59%);
• people are basically good (69%);
• and the personal definition of success is not based on consistent obedience to God (79%)
Another disturbing trend this past year is…
CBN- New Barna Survey Finds 1 in 3 Christians Stopped Attending Online or In-Person Church Services During Pandemic - 07-13-2020 -Andrea Morris
So what is the big deal?
Christian Post – 1 in 5 churches facing permanent closure within 18 months due to COVID-19 shutdowns: says Barna Group President -AUGUST 26, 2020
As many as one in five churches could permanently close as a result of shutdowns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, according to David Kinnaman, president of the prominent Christian research organization Barna Group.
Christian Pilgrim -MANY CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS ARE THERE IN AMERICA? August 27, 2017 By Howard Kramer
The estimated number of church buildings accommodating Christian congregations is approximately 37 million. That’s one for every 65 people.
That is 7.4 million empty church buildings in the coming year!
Christian Post – 1 in 5 churches facing permanent closure within 18 months due to COVID-19 shutdowns: says Barna Group President -AUGUST 26, 2020
The disruptions related to giving, and even for those churches that have reopened, they’re seeing much smaller numbers of people show up. So simply reopening a church doesn’t fix the underlying economic challenges that you might have.”
Christian Post – 1 in 5 churches facing permanent closure within 18 months due to COVID-19 shutdowns: says Barna Group President -AUGUST 26, 2020
The NAE survey of about 1,000 churches found that 34% of churches reported a decline in giving by 10-20% or more; 22% reported a decline of 30-50% or more; and 9% reported a drop of 75% or more.
The Citizen - The pandemic and the demise of the Church By David Epps -September 23, 2020
Another disheartening fact is that, for churches that do live stream, fully one-third of the active congregation does not and has not tuned in to watch… There is the danger that people who have broken the habit of church attendance may be tempted to stay absent. It is also possible that those who have only been to “virtual church” during this time will want to stay home in their pajamas and drink coffee as they watch church from the comfort of their recliner. This would be a shame.
The Citizen - The pandemic and the demise of the Church By David Epps -September 23, 2020
A significant portion of church-goers have a “movie ticket mentality.” That is, “If I don’t go to a movie, I don’t pay for a ticket,” which translates as, “If I don’t go to church, I don’t give an offering.” It is a flawed concept of stewardship but is widespread in some circles.
An April 24, 2020 article in the Washington Post states that churches, especially small churches, are living week to week, have eliminated much of paid staff, and are struggling to pay their mortgages. Even though congregations may not be meeting as usual, the expenses are virtually the same.
The Citizen - The pandemic and the demise of the Church By David Epps -September 23, 2020
When Genesis records that God said, “It is not good that man should be alone,” He meant that. Man (or humankind, if you prefer) was not created to be a solitary creature. In the New Testament, the admonition is given to “not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” When Jesus himself addresses seven churches in the Book of Revelation, those messages are given to the gathered church, not to individuals. Almost all the Epistles are addressed to congregations. There is no such thing as “solitary Christianity.” There is no, “It’s just me, my Bible, and Jesus.”
The Citizen - The pandemic and the demise of the Church By David Epps -September 23, 2020
If churches fail, it will not be the fault of the pandemic. It will not be the fault of the government, as indifferent or hostile as governments can be to spiritual matters. The blame will rest in the hands of its leaders and members who allowed it to die through neglect, apathy, and lack of faith.
Now why did I go through that long diatribe regarding the church, and Christianity as a whole?
BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANITY, AS LEAST FROM WHERE I’M SITTING IS IN A SORT OF A CRISIS!
AND IT PRIMARILY DOES NOT HAVE TO DO WITH THE EMPTY CHURCH BUILDING SCENARIO, THAT I PLACED BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, BUT RATHER WITH THE EMPTY, HOLLOW, CHRISTIANITY THAT IS SPREADING IN OUR CULTURE TODAY.
We are going to the book of 1st John, because within it, at least as far as these opening verses are concerned, they place before us what I would call and have entitled this message after:
The Three-fold Essentials of Christianity!
Or maybe a condensed version of this title would be better:
The Essential’s of Christianity!
Or…
Essential Christianity!
And by this I mean, that these verses in 1st John lay out before us what Christianity is essentially about!
John’s writings seem to emphasize this aspect of Christianity, that Jesus himself said that this is the essence of what eternal life is!
John 17: 3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.-AMPC
In 1st John the word “Know” is used 40 times!
And my concern as a pastor, chaplain servant of Jesus Christ is this, that there are many who think that they are Christians, but they may ultimately hear these words from Jesus in that Judgement day…
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ -NIV
And so my proposition to you from this scripture passage is simply this:
A study of 1 John 1:1-2:3 will reveal to us what the particulars are of essential Christianity. particularly, what the three-fold essentials of eternal life are, or what Christianity is essentially about!
If you can’t add up the three – you may hear “Depart from Me!”
And what I like about John is that his literary style in not ambiguous but on the contrary very black and white. He writes in black and white (dualistic) terms. He uses terms like light versus darkness, stylistically he will make a negative statement, immediately followed by a positive one, so that you can’t miss it, no matter what level of spiritual maturity you may be at!
One of the major reasons is because as you read through this epistle you will see that false teachers had entered the church, we will refer to them as Gnostics, at this time, and I will explain to you exactly what that term means in a moment, but what I want to do is begin this journey with placing before us this first point of what Essential Christianity, is essentially all about….
I. THE PERSON OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY
And interestingly enough he doesn’t start his letter with the word who, but rather with the word that….
1 John 1:1a That which…
1 John 1:1a "What" -NASB
1 John 1:1b was from the beginning,
A) Perspective?
1. This points to the pre-existence of this person.
a) Which is a recurrent theme in John's writings!
1 John 1:1a We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,- NLT
2. From the beginning?
John 1:1a In the beginning
a) In the beginning (en arche)
b) What beginning?
c) When is the beginning?
d) He can’t mean the beginning of eternity, because by its definition eternity has no beginning!
3. What John is saying could be paraphrased "Before time began…
4. Before the world was created:
a) Was a Person!
B) Person?
1. Jesus Christ
2. Jesus of Nazareth
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. -NIV
John 8:57 "You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" 58"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" _NIV
C) Particulars?
John 1:1b was the Word."
1. Word - ????? -logos
a) A word, uttered by a living voice
b) Embodiment of a concept or idea
c) Word -the Greek term logos refers to a message, not just a single word.
d) The Jew would understand that this term meant the creative and communicative acts of God.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. -ESV
D) Point?
1. The beginning refers to the inception of creation.
2. When creation came into existent,
E) Personality?
Revelation 21:6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life
F) His Personification?
1. Of that Word, Person, Concept, Idea?
a) John refers to his 3 physical senses:
1 John 1:1b which we have heard,
i. We heard Him
a. Heard (Akouo) means to hear with attention, to hear with the "ear" of the mind, to hear with understanding.
1 John 1:1c which we have seen with our eyes,
ii. We saw Him (with our physical eyes).
a. John is not talking about a mystical “vision” of Christ, but of actually watching Jesus as He lived before them.
b. John is asserting that he and the apostles were eyewitnesses of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.
c. They saw Jesus of Nazareth turn the water into wine, feed the 5,000, walk on water, heal the multitudes, and raise the dead.
d. The 35 miracles recorded in the four gospels are only a fraction of those that the apostles witnessed.
John 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.-NIV
2 Peter 1:16a For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty-ESV
1 John 1:1d which we looked upon
e. Looked upon - Theaomai implies an intent contemplative gaze.
f. Looked upon means more than a mere glance or quick look, but a long, searching investigative gaze, studied.
1 John 1:1e have touched with our hands,
iii. We touched Him
a. Pre-crucifixion
John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.-KJV
b. Post -resurrection
Luke 24:39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” -NKJV
F) His Praenomen
1. The first or personal name of a Roman Citizen. (Gaius Julius Ceasar).
a) The first name that John chooses to introduce him by in this letter is:
1 John 1:1e concerning the word of life—
2. Word of the Life, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
a) Meaning?
i. Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, is the One Who is the essence of life:
a. "Life" "Zoe" is used consistently in John's writings (47x in the Gospel of John) for spiritual life, eternal life, resurrection life, new life, God's life!
b. Life “Bios” physical life
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.-NIV
G) His Plurality?
1. Creator
2. Sustainer
Hebrews 1:3a The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word -NIV
3. Son of Man
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, -NIV
John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. -NIV
4. Son of God
John 1:14b and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
5. Savior
Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. -NIV
Q: What is the point of all this you ask?
Q: Why did John present Jesus in this way?
H) The Problem: (That John was primarily addressing through this epistle.)
1. Gnostics
2. Gnosticism
a) Spirit was considered good, while matter was considered inherently evil.
b) There were primarily two forms of Gnosticism which apparently what John was confronting
i. Docetic Gnosticism, which denied the humanity of Jesus because after all, all matter is evil!
ii. Cerinthian Gnosticism, which identified Jesus as one of many mystical, mythical, matter-less, gods or angelic beings
a. Led to an asceticism (if the body wants it, it is evil, because all matter is evil.)
3. Gnosis in the Greek means knowledge, or knowing.
a) Gnostics believed that spiritual knowledge was the key to attain salvation.
i. Therefore it didn’t matter how you lived!
ii. Antinomianism = if the body wants it, give in to it!
4. So the problem John was addressing is:
a) The Gnostic denial that Jesus had come in the flesh, that he was fully human, because God, could not inhabit an evil body of matter.
b) And that they were bound to any moral law.
i. Their spiritual being was unaffected by the action of matter.
I) Principles?
1. Essential Christianity?
a) Essential Christianity is a testimony to be believed!
i. The humanity of Jesus! (We saw him, we heard him, we touched him)
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. -NIV
2 John 1:7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.- NIV
ii. Gospel of John defends His Divinity, the 1st Epistle of John defends His Humanity!
b) Essential Christianity is a Person to be received!
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
II. THE PROCLAMATION OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY!
A) A Person
B) PROCLAIMED!
1 John 1:2c and proclaim to you the eternal life,
1. Eternal life is mentioned 6 times in this epistle!
F F Bruce - John's epistle is justly called the epistle of eternal life. It shows how and in Whom that life was uniquely and perfectly manifested; it shows how the presence of that life in men and women may be recognized.
a) That last statement is the third essential which I will get to…
1 John 1:2d which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
b) Manifested (phaneroo) literally means"to bring to light," "to make visible" or to cause to become visible.
i. Also to make tangible, and attainable!
ii. This term (phaneroo) implies "to bring to light that which was already present."
1 John 1:3a that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you,
C) Point?
1. This refers to John's authoritative apostolic testimony!
Galatians 1:1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. – NLT
a) Again, Essential Christianity is an authoritative testimony to believe – Apostolic!
2. Preaching, proclamation is the means by which this amazing reality is primarily communicated!
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.-NIV
Act 9:20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.-NIV
2 Timothy 2:8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach-NLT
D) Problem?
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center -Released: August 4, 2020
Evangelistic Fervor is Missing - Currently, only half of adults (49%) believe that they have a personal responsibility, in appropriate situations, to share their religious beliefs with people who possess different religious beliefs.
III. The PURPOSE OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
1 John 1:3b so that you too may have fellowship with us;
A) Purpose?
1. Fellowship (4 uses = 1John 1:3,6,7)
a) Koinonia from koinos = that which is in common, belonging to several, or of which several are partakers of.)
i. It means to share in, or to have in common, or communion
ii. Webster defines it as "intimate fellowship."
B) Points?
1. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY IS CORPORATE!
a) New Testament Concept:
i. Paul's and Peter's use of PLURAL imagery for the people of God
a. Body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-20)
b. Building (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-5)
Bob Utley - This sense of corporality is hard for western, individualists to comprehend. Moderns express the value on the individual person, where the eastern ancients focus on the health of the group. The goal of the believer is the health and growth of the Body!
b) Old Testament Concept?
i. "One affects the whole!"
a. Achan (Joshua 7, negatively)
c) New Testament Concept (1st John’s?)
1. Koinonia is an invitation to share in, to fellowship in the very same relationship that John and the other apostles enjoyed with The Father and The Son!
1 John 1:3c and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
The Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words – Fellowship - The Father and Son have enjoyed communion with each other since before the creation of the world. When Jesus entered into time, His fellowship with the Father also entered into time. During the days of His ministry on earth, Jesus was introducing the Father to the disciples and initiating them into this fellowship. The unique fellowship between God and Jesus began in eternity, was manifested in time through the incarnation of Jesus, was introduced to the apostles, and then introduced to each and every believer through indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
3. This was the fellowship that the apostles enjoyed after the ascension!
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.18a I will not leave you as orphans -AMPC
4. This is the fellowship that John invites us to!!
a) A joint participation, a partnership, in things held in common.
C) Partnership?
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.- ESV
1. A Partnership that removes:
a) Racial barriers. "Neither Jew nor Greek."
b) Social barriers. "Bond or free."
c) Sexual barriers. "Male or female."
D) Point?
1. Fellowship and friendship are two different things!
a) Friendships are what I have with people outside of the Body of Christ.
b) Fellowship is an eternal bond, brotherhood, I have with those inside the Body of Christ!
D) Personally?
1. IT PERSONALLY BREAKS MY HEART WHEN PEOPLE OF THIS FELLOWSHIP REFUSE TO GATHER!
a) I heard a testimony this week about believers in China, who gather in a cave at the threat of their lives, who pick up a bible that they have to leave there, and praise and worship by candlelight because it will cost them their lives if discovered!
b) Why does this bother me?
IV. The PRODUCT OF AN ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
A) Produce?
1. End result?
1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.-NKJV
2. JOY!
a) Joy (chara) is a feeling of inner gladness, delight or rejoicing.
b) Joy in the NT is virtually always used to signify a feeling of "happiness" that is based on spiritual realities (and independent of what "happens").
B) Picture?
Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.-NIV
C) Point?
1. Why did John write this epistle?
2. So that we might have the fullness of joy.
3. A COMPLETE JOY!!
a) Joy may be made complete (pleroo) literally means to fill something to the brim, to make complete in every particular way and to cause to abound.
4. God wants your life to be filled with joy!
1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory-ASV
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.-NASB
John Piper- Fellowship is one of the great callings on your life as a Christian — all of you. The calling of Christian fellowship — in all its forms
V. THE PRECAUTION OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
1 JOHN 1:5a This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,
VI. The PERSONALITY OF THE GOD OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY!
1 John 1:5b that God is light,
A) Personality?
1. Light!
Psalm 27:1 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?
1 Timothy 6:16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
B) Point?
1. Points out two characteristics of God:
a) The illuminating and revelatory nature of God!
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -NIV
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”-NIV
2. THE ETHICAL, MORAL NATURE OF GOD!
a) Light = purity
1 John 1:5c and in him is no darkness at all.
i. This is a DOUBLE NEGATIVE statement for emphasis.
Psalm 90:8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.= ESV
C) Problem?
John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. -NIV
George Barna - Faith Has a Limited Effect On Most People’s Behavior- May 24, 2004
Jesus taught that Christians would be recognizable by their distinctive behavior –
Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.-NIV
George Barna - Faith Has a Limited Effect On Most People’s Behavior- May 24, 2004
A new report from The Barna Group, a cultural analysis company in southern California, presents research indicating that people’s faith does not make as much of as difference as might be expected – especially among non-evangelical born again Christians. Based on a national survey that related people’s faith and 19 lifestyle activities that might be expected to be affected by faith views.
VI. THE ESSENTIAL PROOF THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN?
A) PROOF?
1 John 1:6a If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie…
1. MY WALK – NOT MY TALK!
a) Walk -pe??pat?µe? (peripatomen)
i. Life, lifestyle.
B) Perspective?
1. “If we say.” - the Gnostics claimed that fellowship was based on knowledge only.
C) Point?
1. John is asserting that Christians must live Christ-like lives!
1 John 2:4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him -ESV
D) Particulars of Essential Christianity?
1. Essential Christianity is a testimony to be believed – Apostolic testimony!
2. Essential Christianity is a Person to be received – as LORD – JESUS CHRIST!
3. Essential Christianity is a life that you lead – a Christ-like, Word and Spirit directed life!
a) IF ANY OF THE ABOVE ARE MISSING ESSENTIALLY YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN!
VII. THE ESSENTIAL PATH OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
1 John 1:7a But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
A) Path?
1. Light!
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
a) Word, who is Christ!
b) Word of Christ!!
B) PURITY!
John Stott - We must walk in the light of His holy self-revelation, and in His presence, without deceit or dishonesty in our mind or consciously tolerated sin in our conduct. ‘Walking in the light’ describes ‘absolute sincerity, to be, so to speak, all of a piece, to have nothing to conceal, and to make no attempt to conceal anything’.
John Phillips – To walk in the light means that our lives will be transparent and above reproach. We will harbor nothing shady, nothing we would not want to be seen and known, for light exposes the hidden works of darkness.
Sam Storms - At minimum, it refers to a desire or a yearning for truth and righteousness in one's life. This is not sinlessness, but it does mean that we will sin less. It is a life characterized by "a conscious sustained endeavor to live a life in conformity with the revelation of God, who is light." It means living with an open heart before God, honest and vulnerable, quick to confess and repent.
C) Point?
1. The goal of Christianity is not only heaven when we die, but Christlikeness now.
D) Product?
1 John 1:7b we have fellowship with one another,
1. Fellowship
2. Partnership
3. Personal relationship
a) With God
b) With one another
i. 100 “one another’s” in the New Testament.
c) How come about?
E) Purification
1 John 1:7c and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
F. D. Maurice, M. A.-The Son of God has taken our flesh and blood. He is the Head of our race. When we seek to rise out of ourselves — to be delivered from our falsehood — to have fellowship with God, and fellowship with our brother, then His blood is an assurance that we have that fellowship. It removes the sense of sin against God which is in us; it removes the sense of sin against men. It gives that atonement and that purification which nothing else in earth and heaven can give.
F) Principle?
1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Martin Luther –The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.
Soren Kierkegaard –“Christianity begins with the doctrine of sin."
VIII. THE ESSENTIAL PRACTICE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
A) Practice?
1. Recognize our sin
a) Light reveals our sin
2. Specify our sin
3. Confess our sin
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins,
a) Confess = "to speak" and "the same thing."
b) Believers are to agree with God that they have violated His Law and Holiness.
4. Confess is in the PRESENT TENSE, which implies it is to be an ongoing action.
B) Provide?
1. Cleansing of our sins.
1 John 1:9b he is faithful and just…
a) He is faithful - To his promises.
1 John 1:9 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
b) He is Just – Honors His justice system
Clarence J. VanderVelde- God is faithful – faithful to his promise of forgiveness!
Clarence J. VanderVelde- God is also just – just in the sense that He does what is right and good. God sent his Son into this world to pay the price for our sins, and since the price has been paid, God, in his justice, will not exact the price from us. Christ bore the wrath of God against our sins so that we may be filled with God’s blessing. Therefore, it is a matter of God’s justice to grant us the blessing of forgiveness when we confess our sins.
1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
IX. THE PLEA OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
1 John 2:1a My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.
A) PLEA?
1. THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN!
a) That you would make it your business, to no longer live an ongoing habitual lifestyle of sinning!!
2. REPENT!!
Jack Zavada -Repentance in Christianity means a sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart, from self to God. It involves a change of mind that leads to action—the radical turning away from a sinful course to God. A person who is truly repentant recognizes God the Father as the most important factor of his or her existence
Jack Zavada - A biblical definition of repentance is to make a change of mind, heart, and action, by turning away from sin and self and returning to God. Repentance in the Bible In a biblical context, repentance is recognizing that our sin is offensive to God.
3. REPEATEDLY!
a) Repentance is also an ongoing process which takes place daily. A repentant attitude demonstrates humility and shows God that we fear Him—which means to stand in awe of His almighty power. Repentance means that we are willing to fully submit to God’s will—to keep the commandments of God.
B) Perspective?
1. Sin
John 1: 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
2. Sins
a) I commit daily as a Christian!
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins,
C) Picture
John 13: 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.
X. The PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY!
1 John 2:1b But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
A) Provision?
1. ADVOCATE!
1 John 2:1c Jesus Christ
a) This refers to Jesus' ongoing intercession as our heavenly Advocate (parakletos).
i. This is a legal term for a defense lawyer
ii. Or "one called alongside to help."
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
2. Mediator -µes?t?? (mesites)
a) A go-between, reconciler.
1 John 2:1d the righteous
1 John 2:1d Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action]. -AMPC
b) THE ONLY ONE WHO FITS THAT DESCRIPTION!
Hebrews 4:5 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.-ESV
XI. The PROPITIATOR OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
1 John 2:2a He is the propitiation for our sins,
1 John 2:2a He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, -NIV
A) Propitiate -??asµ?? (hilasmos)
1. Appease an angry god.
2. To propitiate - (hilasmos) refers to a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God and thereby makes God propitious (favorably inclined or disposed, disposed to be gracious and/or merciful, ready to forgive) toward us.
A) Propitiator?
B) Person
1. Jesus Christ!
1 John 2:2a and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
XII. The PROOF OF ESSENTIAL CHRISTIANITY?
1 John 2:2b And by this we know that we have come to know him,
A) Proof?
1 John 2:2c if we keep his commandments.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
ALTAR CALL
1. BELIEVE THE BIBLE’S TESTIMONY OF JESUS?
2. RECEIVED JESUS?
3. LIVE FOR JESUS?
