Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

We’ve been talking about stories.

We are story-formed creatures.

There’s a battle for which stories control our hearts.

There are nemesis narratives that seek to snuff out the gospel.

But there is a surpassing story!

This letter starts with John asserting … we have a better story!

Illustration: Peter Pan “The stories are true” 

Main Idea: In order to avoid the soul destroying nemesis narratives, we must abide in the word and abide in Christ.

Abiding in the Word

1 John 2:24

When the readers hear the Christ-denying clamor all around them, how do they defend themselves against their opponents?

John tells them exactly what to do.

In a sense, he repeats what he already has told them in the first part of his epistle.

"What you have heard from the beginning," that is, the gospel (see 1:1, 3, 5; 2:7), let that Word remain in you.

Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you . . .

sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Psalm 119:11–“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

All along there has been a certain quality, intent, efficacy, and consistency characterizing the saving message they embraced.

They should continue to let it do its work and not seek to make drastic revisions in the message or their response to it now.

(Yarbrough)

1 John 2:27

How do we “abide in the word”?

John is talking about way more here than just knowing the word intellectually.

“Abide”—  rest, remain, dwell, live — Ill.

buying vs. renting — living vs. visiting

I think the essential meaning of our active abiding is the act of receiving and trusting all that God is for us in Christ.

If a branch remains or abides attached to the vine in such a way that it is receiving all that the branch has to give, then that is a picture of what John means by believing or trusting Jesus.

He says in John 1:12, “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” —John Piper

Abiding in Christ

1 john 2:28

1 john 2:20

Abiding in the word, the gospel, is living in a new, better story.

But that story is the greatest story that actually became a person.

 1 John 1:1-3—Believing is a receiving of Christ into the soul, welcoming him, trusting him, as it were, drinking and eating and savoring him.

This is what he says in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

—John Piper

In order to have a healthy relationship you must have a story of trust.

Illustration: you’re cheating on me!

“To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend.

To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.”

—JC Ryle

Conclusion