Untitled Sermon (5)

Jim Hawkins

1 John • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

0 ratings

· 4 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

II. Jesus Christ, the Light of Believers (1:5–10)

Introduction:

This morning we talked about the introduction of this letter. We established that John, who wrote the Gospel was the author of this letter. We talked about the gnostics and that John wrote this letter to refute the arguments that God is spiritual and good, the material world is evil and God therefore has nothing to do with the material world. John established his purpose to establish a relationship with God and thereby share the good news for our joy.

1. The fact (1:5): “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.”

a. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

i. V5 begins with a truth. Upon which John will build a way of life.

b. Light is a theme throughout scripture as far back as

i. The Bible contains many verses talking about light even by beginning and ending speaking of the light:

a) Begins with light 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.

b) To the last Chapter 22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

c) I suspect that the light that ruled on day one and the light that burns eternal are the same.

ii. Other passages throughout scripture

iii. Old Testement

a) : Later God created two lights, the greater to rule the day, the lesser to rule the night.

b) The 9th plague on Egypt was the lack of light—darkness.

c) An important aspect of the tabernacle and temple holy place was the light from the candle that would represent the coming Messiah.

d) Israel was led through the wilderness by a pillar of fire at night that gave them light.

iv. In the New Testament:

a) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Of course that light comes from the Spirit of God dwelling within us.

b) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

c) 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

d) 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

e) 1 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light.

f) 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

c. Apparently, a common 1st century illustration among believers as Paul uses this same division between darkness and light when talking about being unequally yoked with unbelievers in

d. John speaks of God not as a light, or the light, but simply “God is light”

i. It is God’s nature: morally pure,

a) Contrast to darkness as a moral state.

ii. John is preparing for his next statements contrasting the co-existence of light and darkness.

iii. John contrast the light that God is further by stating that in God there is no darkness at all.

iv. The Gnostics argued that if God had dealings with a physical environment, then he would have to contain impurities. John is rejecting this argument.

a) There are some today that are claiming that God possesses an evil aspect, but John can

e. Later, John will state that God is love (v.4:8), These two messages address important aspects of God.

i. God is light is a statement of morality

a) Contrast to darkness as a moral state.

b) Light implies integrity, truthfulness, and authenticity.[1]

c) Darkness stands for evil, sin, and impurity. It implies deceit, falseness, and inauthenticity. Light and darkness are ultimately incompatible, and, while in all human character and behavior there is gray, in God there is nothing unworthy, undependable, or morally ambiguous. God is light.[2]

d) Heathens think of God as darkness, something that is not only unknown, but can’t be known. In contrast to Christianity that knows that know only has God revealed Himself to us, but that He wants us to know Him and fellowship with Him

ii. God is love is a statement of an attribute of God

a) A statement of Gods’s status of His relationship with His creation

f. Light and Life are huge in the discussion of John’s gospel.

a) The light is the source of life. There was no life until after light on earth

b) shows that eternal life is dependent on light

c) , Jesus states “I am the light of the world”

a. Because God is light, there is in Him, no possibility of darkness.

i. The two cannot dwell together.

a) One will overwhelm the other and overcome the other

3. The fruits of the light (1:6–10)

a. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

b. In this section there are four confessions (or claims) that may be made, but by any believer, John included. In verse 6 is the claim of fellowship by someone walking in moral darkness. Verse 8 contains the claim of no present sins (sinless perfection). Verse 9 is a confession of sin. Finally, verse 10 is a denial of one’s sin nature, a claim not to need confession because no sin exists to confess with the resultant need for forgiveness.[3]

c. V 5 was the truth, We turn the corner to see how it affects our life:

d. Negative (1:6, 8, 10): If we walk in darkness with unconfessed sin, we will remain barren.

i. V6,

ii. Our churches today are filled with people that claim to be Christians, they show up on Sunday and talk a good game at church, but during the week, they look like the world, they talk like the world, they go to places that are complementary to Christianity.

iii. There are some pulpits today that are preaching we can “Coexist” with a variety of man-made religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, atheism, naturalism and a host of other religions. Some like Islam, have a teaching that followers are to kill all none believers. Some of these teach salvation is by works. These are teachings of darkness; Christianity teaches that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ. How can this multiplicity of teachings coexist?

iv. Homosexuality, living together, and many other life styles that are in violations of the clear teaching of scripture show a disregard of walking in darkness while proclaiming to live in the light.

v. The result, it is a form of hypocrisy.

vi. But instead, by preaching these things we demonstrate that we lie, and the truth is not in us.

vii. Run from those that teach these false doctrines.

a) Example from politics: an issue that I use, not because it is is the most important, although I think it is very important, but I have found that in all except a very few cases if a politician gets this one wrong, they are wrong on many more things than they are right on.

e. V8

i. When we say that we have no sin, we lie.

ii. There are some that teach a doctrine called “sinless perfection” that once we become saved, we are no longer are capable of sinning. But here, John is telling us that even though we are Christians we will still have a tendency to sin. Paul wrote about this struggle as well in

iii. We sin on a regular basis, we look at the 10 commandments and the Mosaic law and think to ourselves “ I don’t do any of those things, so I must be a good person,” But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises the stakes, but saying it is not just how we act, but goes deeper to how we thing, and points to sin as being a matter of the heart.

iv. Sin is alive and well in each of us. All of us at some level are selfish, we can sing with Sinatra “I did it my way”.

v. Some have tried to argue that here John is talking about those who have rejected Jesus Christ, but if you note, he is including himself in the group. “WE”. Consequently, if he we talking about those who have rejected Jesus, than it would mean John would have rejected Christ.

a) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

b) What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

vi. When we say we don’t have sin in our life, we are liars. As John says “the truth is not in us”

vii. We are self-deceived

viii. We all suffer from I-disease

a) Ever notice the middle letter of sin?

b) Ever notice the middle letter of pride?

c) Both have the letter I,

d) I-disease is selfishness,

a. I put myself first,

b. I know better than God

i. Form of Idolatry.

f. V10 Claiming that we have no sin makes God a liar

i. All have sinned and come short of God’s glory

ii. Again, God’s truth is not in us when we deny that we have no sin. This is not a repeat, but a new thought. Here John is referring to our natural man as not having sin.

a) Modern psychiatry wants us to believe that sin is not a real thing. It is just a temporary failing because of our humanity.

iii. God’s entire dealing with man since the fall is in dealing with man’s very nature to sin. [4]

iv. If we are going to deal honestly and completely with sin, we must view it as the darkness God views it.

a) If God is light, how can darkness dwell with Him.

4. 2. Positive (1:7–9): If we walk in the light and confess our sin, we will be cleansed and fruitful.

a. V7.

i. conditional statement

ii. walking is in a state of actively participating, something we are to be doing yesterday, today, tomorrow, and every day for the rest of our lives.

a) John is not talking about physically walking but spiritually walking

a. Do we stumble yes, just as we physically stumble from time to time.

b) our model for what is good and acceptable to God is by looking to Christ, and walking in fellowship with Him.

a. We cannot know Him with out fellowshipping with Him

b. Sometimes on a college campus a guy hanging with his friends will point to a girl and say “I love her” but when pressed, the guy doesn’t know her name, doesn’t know where she lives, where she from or anything about her, in fact, they have never spoken to one another. He doesn’t lover her, he is taken with attractiveness. There are many who claim to be Christians but are not in love with Jesus, they may be attracted to Him, but they are not in love with Him. They make no effort to know Him, they never open their Bible, they do not fellowship with believers, and they do not attend church. How can they say that they love Him?

c. John may be referencing O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

iii. Results of walking in the Light:

a) we have fellowship with one another

b) Our fellowship with other believers is directly related to our fellowship with God. If we are out of fellowship with God, our fellowship with other believers will be broken as well.

a. we tend to shy away from hanging around other believers as we did before

b. we view everything said from the pulpit as directed at me personally.

a. Illus: people think that a sermon was directed at them, when the pastor was notified of this perception, “I didn’t even think of the person during the preparation or delivery of that sermon.”

b. The use of the words in Greek indicate that both parties are part of the fellowship with Christ.

i. My friendship with unbelievers is not as sweet with believers.

ii. Illus. Fellowship with pastor at a graduation party

iii. Illus: Re-connecting with Chuck

c. Fellowship with God depends on our walking in the light, His moral purity, as God lives only in moral purity. Similarly, mutual fellowship among believers, members of God’s family, cannot occur apart from lives characterized by God’s moral purity as well. Fellowship requires sharing in something. In this case it is sharing in moral purity.[5]

c) and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin

d) The believer who conducts his life in the sphere of God’s moral purity (“the light”) experiences the benefits of Jesus’ cleansing work on the cross.[6]

a. This is not just at the time of salvation, but also from the daily sins we commit-an ongoing cleansing.

b. In the upper room , Jesus speaks of not needing to be completely washed, but washing of feet-the daily walking that dirties ones feet,

c. Jesus is speaking of pruning unproductive branches,

d. This cleansing, pruining or purification may be two-fold in nature. The removal of the consequence of known sins, and the revelation of unknown sin.

i. As a programmer, I could program with just what I learned in college 20 some years ago. But the more I practice my craft, the more I read in articles or in seminars, etc. the better my code becomes, with less bugs, unnecessary statements. It becomes more efficient. Provides more robust solutions for users.

ii. Some want to remain where they were 20 years ago in our spiritual life, we are missing out on a lot.

e. The idea here of cleansing is an ongoing and continuous action.

f. All sin: God is not limiting the believer to the kind of sin that can be forgiven.

b. V9

i. A very well-known verse. Perhaps one of the first verses I learned as a young believer.

ii. Two separate but linked concepts unfold here

iii. Confession

a) To be valid, it must be sincere

a. Illustration-telling a child to say “I’m sorry”. Frequently we know that it is not a true apology, but something to get the adult off their back.

b. How often what God calls darkness we want to call dim light, dusk or a shadow.

b) Confession is not to a man, even a priest, but to God.

a. However if we have injured another party we need to confess to them

c) Confession if needed to avoid the consequence of sin () Paul talks about partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. Generally, this is accepted as speaking of unconfessed sin. But note: Paul indicates, that this will result in judgement. Some are sick and some have even died.

d) Notice that John uses SINS not SIN.

a. Not generic but specific sins

b. In addition to “Count your many blessings, name them one by one” we need to have a verse that says “Confess your many sins, name them one by one”

iv. Part two is the result of confession

a) God is faithful and just

a. We can rely on God to keep His word

b. Jesus always has been and always will be a Promise Keeper-VBS slogan

c. God is not unpredictable

i. He doesn’t say, to bad, I have already for given you of that sin 490 times, and this makes 491

ii. He doesn’t say, to bad, that was one of the big 10 you broke-to bad for you.

iii. He doesn’t say, “I didn’t like the way you confessed-to bad-I’m not forgiving that one

iv. He doesn’t say: “I’m not in a good mood today and that one just pushed me into a fouler mood.

b) Forgives and cleanses

a. forgiveness

i. Satisfaction was made at the cross

ii. The idea is that we are released from the moral obligation

b. Cleansing

i. To be made morally pure

ii. Accomplished through the finished of Jesus Christ on the cross

c. Notice that no act of penance in required.

i. Some think that we have to repeat a phrase or do good works to obtain confession

ii. What act of penance would be sufficient. If the work of Christ on the cross was not sufficient, what work can we do that will complete the task.

iii. Common in heathen and man-made religions that an act of penance is required.

Conclusion:

1. Jesus is the light and is not compatible with darkness. Not only is this a great truth of scripture, but it should give guidance in how we live day to day.

2. We cannot walk in light and darkness at the same time. We must choose light or darkness.

3. We will fail to consistently walk in the light, we will drift into the darkness, We can come to God and confess our sins and there is forgiveness because of the cross.

[1] Johnson, T. F. (2011). 1, 2, and 3 John (p. 28). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

[2] Johnson, T. F. (2011). 1, 2, and 3 John (p. 29). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

[3] Derickson, G. W. (2012). First, Second, and Third John. (H. W. House, W. H. Harris III, & A. W. Pitts, Eds.) (p. 77). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[4] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). 1 John (p. 5). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

[5] Derickson, G. W. (2012). First, Second, and Third John. (H. W. House, W. H. Harris III, & A. W. Pitts, Eds.) (p. 102). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[6] Derickson, G. W. (2012). First, Second, and Third John. (H. W. House, W. H. Harris III, & A. W. Pitts, Eds.) (p. 102). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Related Media

Related Sermons