Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (8 Of 16)

So far we have taken:

1. THE ATTITUDE TEST

2. THE ACTION TEXT

3. THE AFFECTION TEST

4. THE ACTUALITY TEST

5. THE ADULTERY TEST

6. THE ANTICHRIST TEST

So many folks may say they KNOW THE LORD, but, if they can not pass the tests John gives, they do not really know the Lord.

The Lord Jesus makes that amply clear. Look at Matthew 7:22-23. We read, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” There is nothing that could possibly be more shocking, as a human, than to stand before the Lord Jesus and hear Him say, “YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME, BUT YOU DO NOT.” To keep that from happening, let us take one more test. This is the last of this group of John’s tests. It is called The Abiding Test.

WHAT IS THE ABIDING TEST?

Let me run a common occurrence by you. If you have been saved for a couple of years and active in the church, you, along with the others, have seen some who have been saved for a couple of years or more. You have seen folks come into the church who profess to know the Lord, and seem to be on fire for the Lord. In fact, some seem to know the Lord better than anyone else in the church. But then, all of a sudden, one of these dropped out of church and made himself so scarce it would probably be hard for the FBI to find him.

Everyone in the church then is left wondering,

1. What happened to that person?

2. Did we do something wrong?

3. Why did that person not come back?

Well, the fact is, many times it has nothing to do with the church. That person made a FALSE PROFESSION. He fooled everyone for a while. The person who operates on his emotions is often guilty of this kind of false profession. As long as he is emotionally involved in the church you would think he really knows the Lord and has a faith so strong he can move mountains, but just let his emotions be down and he is ready to go home and blow his brains out.

Illus: Such was the case of one lady, like so many other people, who was very emotional. She stood up in a testimony service and told how much she loved the Lord and that she wanted to serve Him as long as she lived. She was very emotional when she gave that testimony, but today you can not get her close to a church

WHAT HAPPENED?

She spoke those words while emotionally stirred. Then, when the strong feelings were gone, so was she - along with her profession.

The reason we know some folks do not KNOW THE LORD is because they can not pass the ABIDING TEST! This is the test that is passed if we know Christ, His Word ABIDES IN US...

• This week, next week, next year, and until we die.

• Through good times and bad times.

HIS WORD LIVES WITHIN US!

So today, as we take this test, we want to see if the Word of God ABIDES IN YOU.

VII. THE ABIDING TEST

Let us examine at least FOUR things about our abiding in Christ.

A. THE PROOF

Look at verse 24. We read, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

In a previous message, John conveyed to the Christians that there were many antichrists. When he wrote to the Christians about the false teachings, he referred to the Christians as “little children.” He addressed them as such for a reason. WHAT WAS THAT REASON?

Again, he realized little children believe anything you tell them.

Illus: You can say to children, “Once upon a time...” and tell them all kinds of ridiculous stories and they will sit and listen and imagine that the ridiculous story you are telling them is true. (This is why, if children are allowed to watch television, they should always have a responsible adult with them who will explain to them those things are not true.)

John knew in the “end time,” there would be many false teachers telling people all kinds of ridiculous things. He warned them, and us, DO NOT BELIEVE THE IMPOSTORS! EVERYTHING THEY SPEAK IS A LIE!

Look back at verses 22-23. We read, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”