Sermon Tone Analysis

*1.

Introduction - am I sure of eternal life?

How can I be sure?*

As I reflect back on the events of the last 2 weeks one of the greatest contrasts I noticed was the hope of the Christians over against the hopelessness of those who are not yet Christians.

It was clear and stark.

I have great confidence that Andrew is now with Jesus in heaven.

I have great confidence that I will be there with him one day.

But what about you?

I want to ask you today, are you sure that you will be there?

Friends, God wants us to be sure, and he wants us to know we can be sure.

Today as we reflect some more on 1 John this letter is all about being sure.

Now if you’re in Seniors but not in MU I’m sorry you’ve missed the first of these studies – for we are going through the MU studies for this year which from 1 John.

But I’m sure you’ll still be blessed greatly by being here.

Looking through 1 John is a little like going to the doctor for a health check.

There he or she is, checking out all your vital functions - blood pressure, heart rate, lung capacity, whatever - to see what sort of physical shape we’re in.

Well in 1 John we check out our vital spiritual signs, and there are 3 – do we have a true understanding of the person and Lordship of Jesus; are we seeking to be obedient to God; and do we really love each other practically.

If they all check out we’re in great spiritual shape and can be sure of being with Jesus in heaven forever.

But if any one of them is a flat line, then we are in very serious trouble.

Today we’re going to have a check-up, as we look briefly at these 3 tests, so you might like to turn to 1 John 2.

 

*2.

The truth about Jesus (2:1-2)*

            The first area we must get right is a true understanding of Jesus.

John gives us a very succinct summary there in vv1-2 – READ.

            3 truths we get from these first 2 verses

- we are people who sin.

We are not perfect yet.

Christians should be trying to stop sinning, it’s part of why John writes – v1a - I write this so you will not sin.

But we do sin – if you think you don’t ask your best friend.

And that’s not a good position to be in because of the 2nd point -

- God the Father will judge sin.

Heb 9:27 tells us ‘we are destined to die once and after that to face judgement’.

When Andrew died he came before the judgement seat of God.

So will I, when I die, so will you.

And it’s not a good place to be if you are guilty of sin.

And John has already said we are – so are we in a hopeless position?

- Not necessarily.

It depends on what we’ve done with Jesus.

For as we stand before the judgement seat of God Jesus will be there.

He will either be your prosecutor or your defence lawyer.

As prosecutor he will be ruthlessly effective – for he knows all my thoughts, words and deeds.

He will prove very easily how guilty of sin I am, how much I didn’t know God at all, despite how much I think I can show God how good I’ve been.

But he can also appear as my defence lawyer.

See the end of v1 – he can speak to the father in my defence.

How can he do this?

Why would God take his life into account in my case?

The answer is in v2 – Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for my sins, for our sins, indeed for all sins.

I cannot appease the wrath of God at my sin.

I can’t.

You can’t.

But in Jesus God has done it for us.

This one who lived a sinless life died – a pure, sinless sacrifice – for us.

Jesus has paid the price for me, he has taken God’s sentence on me.

It is why Good Friday is good.

But will I accept Christ’s work?

Friends I must understand the truth about who Jesus is and what he has done for me.

I have no spiritual life unless I do that.

*3.

Be obedient (2:3-6)*

But Christianity is not just about a man dying on a cross is it?

A number of people I speak to know that Jesus died on a cross for sins.

They might even believe he rose from the dead.

But it doesn’t seem to make any difference to their lives.

Christianity is about committing my life to Jesus, and walking with him in my life, in fact giving him control over my life.

And this is the issue in the second test in vv3-6 – do I obey God?

 

Vv3-6 are concerned with obedience.

So v3 - READ.

Do I obey Jesus’ commands?

The story is told of the young man who had just become a Christian.

He said ‘I don’t need to obey God’s law now, I just need to love Jesus.’

And we do need to love Jesus, indeed we will want to love him because of who he is and what he has done for us.

But how do you show your love for Jesus?

Send him some Easter eggs?

Or a Valentine’s Card?

Some flowers perhaps?

No. Jesus says in John 14:15 ‘if you love me you will ... obey what I command’ So it is not enough, v4, to say I am a Christian and not do what Jesus commands.

Such a person John says is a liar.

The real test of a person is what they do not what they say?

Do they walk the walk?

\\ Often the biggest problem for new Christians or for people who aren’t yet Christians and meet Christians or come into church, is the hypocrisy of the people who call themselves Christians.

They are just like the world, disobeying God and not loving others.

But John says in v6, if you claim to be a Christian, you must walk as Jesus did.

If you claim to be in a personal relationship with God, people should be able to see it in your life.

So let’s be honest with ourselves - think about those people you know who aren’t yet Christians - when they see you what do they see, someone different to them or someone who seems much the same?

Same ambition, same attitudes, same values, same behaviour, same drive, same loves?

John says in v5, when we keep God’s word, then God’s love, is made complete in us.

The more we obey God, the more we let His love for us accomplish its purpose in our lives.

So what does obedience look like?

It’s not perfection.

John recognises we sometimes get it wrong.

Rather he is talking about our manner of life.

What are our actions and life determined by?

By God and what He says, or by the world?

Can you see changes in your life, your character, your mind, as a result of being a Christian?

ILLN – Remember John Newton, the writer of ‘Amazing Grace’, converted from life as a slave-trading sea captain.

He said at one stage - ‘I am not what I ought to be, but I am not what I once was.

And it is by the grace of God that I am what I am.’

Can you say that?

Our lives show whether we are in fellowship with God or not.

Heartfelt obedience shows that we love God.

It is not an optional extra in the Christian walk.

We are called to a life of obedience, for that is how Jesus lived.

He is our model, v6 and we must walk as Jesus did.

Now let me say that does not mean we will all do miracles, or have amazing spiritual, even mystical, experiences.