As we entered the COVID-19 crisis I envisioned Christians would support those in leadership positions, I cannot fathom the stress they have endured. I never envisioned the conflict we have witnessed, among Christians and churches. As seen on Facebook, many Christians become antagonistic toward those that hold to different views about precautionary measures, to include decisions about whether to have in-person worship. Sadly, it has given me a clear picture of the conflict issues addressed in 1 John. I experienced this while serving as an interim pastor; the conflict ran deep in our church.
At these crossroads I believe it is less about the topic of the day and more about the situation allowing the conflict to surface. The problem was not direct issues requiring necessary decisions, it become a way for many to let their personal unrest to become projected on someone who is attempting to maintain fellowship and make responsible decisions. Everybody had an opinion about things out of our control; however, the real struggle was within. How to work together in harmony and become a shining witness to others and provide a pastoral voice to the discussion.
It is also an expression of our failure to acknowledge our sin in these test times of the church and our spiritual development. I was appalled by some of the immaturity that characterized many who profess to be Christian. Many fell victim to conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated mantras. I could only wonder, If Christians have so easily fallen victims to these, are they vulnerable to things of a spiritual nature. That is something each person will need to assess; however, John suggests seeking truth starts with personal assessment and acceptance of our sin.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
When a believer turns from God, what does that mean? 1 John is talking about sin of an eternal nature. What do you do when you sin? We are encouraged to confess it and turn from the sin that creates a roadblock for experiencing firsthand the life God intends.
John wants all believers to know they have eternal life because they are precious in the sight of Jesus. He holds before us the key by which certainty becomes a faith response to all of life: Jesus Christ. John's purpose in writing was to motivate his readers to cultivate greater intimacy with God. John uses the word “Know” perhaps forty times, in certain forms. It is best seen in 2 different verbs he uses:
• ????s?? (ginoskomen) occurs seven times—verb indicative present active 1st person plural:
o “we know” emphasizes inward conscious knowledge—English word conscience has been derived.
o Occurs in 1 John 2:3, 5, 18; 3:24; 4:6, 13; 5:2 (plus 18 times in 1 John in different forms).
• ??da (oidamen) occurs seven times—verb indicative perfect active 1st person plural:
o “we know”—“full knowledge” is meant, or with pro (“foreknowledge”), or ana (“reading”).
o occurs in 1 John 3:2, 14; 5:15 twice, 18, 19, 20 (plus 8 times in 1 John in different forms).
John’s use of the plural expresses the common position of all Christians before God, in contrast to an individual experience—he is writing the Church.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31.
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s placing our faith in Jesus Christ relevant to our lives? Does this make an impact on our daily live? Yes! Trust is one of the most powerful ingredients of life. Having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship available to mankind. Abiding in Him and He in us results in an adventurous life.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Life is lived by faith. We trust people every day–the doctor, the cook, motorist we do not know, etc. Without trust there would not be enough mental hospitals to contain us.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3
We need a foundation upon which we find certainty. The British novelist, J.B. Priestly, was asked to write a short article on his religious beliefs. He declined saying now he was “perhaps better able to deny than to affirm.” Then he added wistfully, “I regret this, because now is the time for gigantic affirmations.” (Byrson, p. 131)
In a society tossed about upon the sea of uncertainty the great affirmations of our faith should serve as a gigantic lighthouse. But they do not for many.
Suddenly perversion is an alternate lifestyle. God-consciousness for long understood as enlightenment is now bigotry and an indicator of social underdevelopment. There is no absolute Truth only contingent truths. Morality is conventions that work, and justice is an option that enjoys political support. The self is no more the mystical domain where the spiritual and mundane merge. Life is no more the discovery and the perfection of that self. Today self is something you buy of a shelf. Life is a careful compilation and continuous renovation of that self. Philosophy and revelation are no more the maps for self-discovery, they have been displaced by catalogues, e-stores, and home-shopping networks. Postmodern intrusions have systematically subverted and undermined every pillar of modern culture, turning it on its head and making it a parody of itself. . . .
This crisis of Truth can be comforting to none. The decline of the spiritual and moral dimensions of Western society increasingly suggests that a society which is gradually relinquishing the quest for truth may eventually have nothing to pursue. Freedom for Freedom’s sake has never sustained a civilization. (“Postmodernity and the Crisis of Truth”, Posted On Jan 21 2000 by : Dr. Muqtedar Khan Marshall Berman said, “All that is solid melts into air.” Concepts of meaning, universal truth that provides a basis for authority have been rejected in post-modernity. According to a study reported by George Barna in 1991, 67% of the US population did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 75%. In 1991, 52% of Evangelicals said they did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 62%. Ravi Zacharias said, “The difference between saying there is no such thing as the truth and living as if truth does not matter is a small one and the consequences for both catastrophic.” He tells the following story in a post, “The Inextinguishable Light”, and follows it with an observation.
I heard a cute little story, growing up in India. It is the story of a little boy who had lots of pretty marbles. But he was constantly eyeing his sister’s bagful of candy. One day he said to her, “If you give me all your candy, I’ll give you all of my marbles.” She gave it much thought and agreed to the trade. He took all her candy and went back to his room to get his marbles. But the more he admired them the more reluctant he became to give them all up. So, he hid the best of them under his pillow and took the rest to her. That night, she slept soundly, while he tossed and turned restlessly, unable to sleep and thinking, I wonder if she gave me all the candy.
I have often wondered, when I see our angry culture claiming that God has not given us enough evidence, if it is not the veiled restlessness of lives that live in doubt because of their own duplicity. The battle in our time is posed as one of the intellect, in the assertion that truth is unknowable. But that may be only a veneer for the real battle, that of the heart. (http://www.rzim.org/just-thinking/the-inextinguishable-light/)
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encourage you to view Truth of Cross in 3 Minutes with Result by Ravi Zacharias (http://youtu.be/Lq2wNKNbgJs) as a way of appreciating the meaning of the cross for Christendom.
Truth is the foundation upon which philosophy, psychology, morality, technology, national conscience, and spirituality are based; truth is truth, and it abides in the heart of God. It is that in essence that He brings into our lives when we trust Him, and He abides in us. Paul said it this way.
I believe there is a hunger for knowing that is emerging among many in our culture; however, there are several things we must consider, if we hope to engage them in dialogue.
1. They have a strong disdain for haughty, arrogant, coercive presentations of truth claim,
2. Many have not bought whole-heartedly into hard-core epistemological relativism, and
3. A growing number of young people do not mind being told something is true as, long as
a. The one making the truth claim is humble, sincere, and willing to dialogue, not demagogue, and
b. They have reason to believe through the dialogue they might discover something that is authentic, transcendent, real. (Gary Tyra, A Missional Orthodoxy: Theology and Ministry in a Post-Christian Context, 2013)
So, here are FOUR GIGANTIC AFFIRMATIONS John makes in 1 John:
I. BELIEVERS LIVE IN THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE
We must remember the prominent theme of I John: The Increase of the Believer’s Joy. How is this done? First, you determine you want to know truth. Failure to know the truth can rob a person of their joy.
Three things can cause believers to doubt:
1. Intellectual arguments–need to think but need to help people get a handle on truth.
2. The high standards of Christianity–need to understand we are not perfect, but we must never lower the standards.
3. Feelings–“I don’t feel saved.”
The first gigantic affirmation found in John’s letter is this: The assurance of eternal life is a truth based upon fact. John wants believers to gain inner assurance of the reality of eternal life.
I. BELIEVERS ENJOY A DYNAMIC PRAYER LIFE (14-17)
The second gigantic affirmation involves the confidence we have in talking with Jesus.
“Confidence” pa?????s?´a {par-rhay-see'-ah} means a boldness toward God.
John sheds some light on the kind of communication we can have with Jesus.
1. God hears the prayers of His people–he takes note of our prayers and pays close attention to them.
2. Our request must be made according to the will of God.
C.H. Dodd: “Prayer rightly considered is not a device for employing the resources of omnipotence to fulfill our own desires, but a means by which our desires may be redirected according to the mind of God and made into channels for the forces of His will.”
3. God’s will, not ours, is central to a healthy spirituality and a healthy church. . . . Jesus said, “Not my will but thine.”
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
5 For in him you have been enriched in every way-- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--
6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:3ff.
3. God answers our requests–things happen when we pray.
Our communication with Jesus is not static, it is dynamic. To illustrate. Charles Spurgeon was attempting to put the finishing touches on a sermon. It was late at night and finally his wife said, “Why don’t you go to bed. I’ll wake you up early and you can finish your sermon in the morning.” After he had gone to sleep, he began preaching the sermon that was giving him so much trouble. His wife sat up in bed and wrote down what he said and gave the notes to her preacher-husband the next morning. Spurgeon exclaimed: “Why, that’s exactly what I wanted to say!”
The second gigantic affirmation: If we abide in Christ–our hearts become attuned to the very heart and will of God.
II. BELIEVERS “LIVE IT UP”—THEY ARE UNDAUNTED BY THE POWER OF SIN
This statement is predicated upon an understanding of I John 1:8-10.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
John is dealing with a very practical matter. The Jews pretended to be living a righteous life, but they were not. The Gnostics pretended to be living holy lives, but they were not. First, we are challenged to recognize our pretentious spirit. We love to look great. The authentic life in Christ begins with agreeing with God about our sinful condition.
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:5
John challenges us to move beyond a fatalistic kind of life. “Well, I am not perfect” translates into a willingness to live imperfect lives. John says in Christ believers can live by a new standard. The key is the new birth in Christ–“born of God” (perfect participle) suggests eternal abiding results.
In this verse an all-powerful obligation rests upon the shoulder of the believer–he/she does not sin. Harold Bryson says, “This presents the ideal standard, he will work with his children to bring them from where they are to where they ought to be.” (p 137) I do not believe John is setting before us an unrealistic expectation for beliers; it does suggest the need to do “lean holy on Jesus name”, as captured the old hymn My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.
Some Christians are living sloppy lives—wanting to give the impression they are spiritual; however, they are carnal in nature. They ignore the moral conscience God has placed within all persons—a built in moral and ethical compass. (See Mere Morality, Smedes) I am burdened by the indifference toward God. The way many professing Christians cannot be distinguished from non-believers is troublesome. In a twisted way many have been tempted to believe the way to reach the world is to adopt the ways of the world.
Since the Fall human beings have tried everything under the sun in their attempt to get back to the innocence enjoyed prior to the Fall. We have fabricated philosophical systems designed to excuse sin. We have avoided intimacy in relationships because we are afraid of guilt. And, we have attempted to justify all of our actions under the guise of believing that feeling better about ourselves is equated to being right with God.
John Piper, Future Grace, writes: “Sin is what you do when your heart is not satisfied with God.” No one sins out of duty. We sin because it holds out some promise of happiness.” Why do we keep getting our feet in the quagmire of sin, when the extravagant grace of God is more astounding and rewarding than anything else?
God is attempting to call us into purity.
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Hebrews 10:20ff
The third gigantic affirmation is this: Believers who abide in Jesus Christ are empowered to live abundant lives because they are empowered by the power of the resurrection.
III. BELIEVERS HAVE A PURE IMAGE OF GOD
Origin of term “Gnostic”: Gnosis (???s??) in ancient and modern Greek is the common feminine noun for "knowledge". The sad thing is they did not know. They were confused within their own camp and created much confusion within the church.
John uses the term “true” three times in verse 20.
20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
It refers to the genuine as opposed to the counterfeit. The false teachers were uncertain about God.
John gives the criteria for having a proper understanding of God:
I. The historical manifestation of God–“The Son of God has come.”
II. The continuous and progressive experiential knowledge of God.
John is saying to us, “Watch out for the imitation and the artificial...” (Wiersbe, p. 190) You are uniquely created and need no longer to live in sin. The fourth gigantic affirmation is this: Those who properly understand God envision the love of Jesus and his ability to transform us into his image–which is the true image of God.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Gen. 1
CONCLUSION
I think I understand the heart and the message of the beloved pastor; he wants to know everyone is secure with who they are in Christ. “When I pray for the church, I place it back in God’s hand.” (Graig Barnes, “The Most Important Thing You Do”) There is nothing I can do that is grander than praying that God will hear my prayer and that your heart will be responsive to the will and ways of God.
I John is perhaps my favorite books of the Bible; however, I realize it is a meaningless exercise to attempt to prioritize what has come to be known as books of the Bible. I John puts biblical truths into perspective and challenges Christians.
Early in my ministry, as I developed series of sermons, I would read one Warren Wiersbe books related to the writing I was using; it was a devotional perspective for me. Wiersbe was known as a Bible teacher, conference speaker and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works. His focus on the study of Scripture and writing was applied research. His ministry was affirmed in a variety of ways across his career as a pastor, conference speaker, writer, etc. In 1995, Wiersbe became Writer in Residence at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
I believe Warren Wiersbe got it right with his title for his book related to 1 John, as mentioned in the first sermon of this series, Be Real. His subline catches the intent of John’s writing: “Throw away your mask and take a realistic look at love and right living in age which knows little.” That is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the church today. If we fully embrace this challenge, we will perhaps see a conversion from tired systems of meaning to a vibrant meaning making belief system.
