Sermon Tone Analysis

“Three Lies That Destroy Blessed Assurance”

I John 1:5-10

INTRODUCTION:

We live in a world in which people sometimes avoid the truth at all costs.

Some people will even try to redefine or change the truth to something more compatible with their desires.

The problem is that truth cannot be changed and it cannot be denied without consequence!

* Man sues to lower his age 20 years.

A Dutch man is suing his local government in the Netherlands, after they refused to change his actual age to the age he identifies with.

A Dutchman has asked a court in the Netherlands to legally change his age from 69 to 49, saying he wants to avoid age discrimination.

Emile Ratelband, a "positivity trainer" who has called himself a "young god," has asked a local court to shift his birthday from March 11, 1949 to March 11,1969, the BBC reports.

Ratelband, a TV personality who answered questions from the Associated Press on Thursday, says the petition is not a publicity stunt.

He said he would give up his monthly pension if his request is granted.

Ratelband says his age is unfairly holding him back, but he doesn't want to lie about it.

"So when I ask for a mortgage, for example, they say it's impossible," he said.

"If I go on Tinder, then I get women from 68, 69 when women are there."

He's spoken repeatedly about the impact of age on his dating prospects.

"When I'm on Tinder and it says I'm 69, I don't get an answer.

When I'm 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position," he said, the BBC reports.

Ratelband has compared the request to legally changing a name or gender.

"With this freedom of choice, choice of name, freeness of gender, I want to have my own age.

I want to control myself," he said.

Having his age legally changed would offer him inspiration and hope, he said.

While age discrimination can be a problem, it is unlike other forms of discrimination that can affect people throughout their whole lives, according to Marjolein van den Brink, who specializes in human rights and gender issues at Utrecht University's law school.

A court is expected to issue a ruling in about four weeks.

USA TODAY

Published 1:22 a.m.

ET

Nov. 9, 2018

As believers in Jesus Christ, we must be people of the truth.

If we are going to operate under the full impact of our “Blessed Assurance,” we must refuse to give assent to the ”Three Lies that will destroy our Blessed Assurance.”

TS: Our text clears up all three of these lies.

I – I CAN LIVE IN SIN AND HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST (1 John 1:5-7).

A. This is impossible because of His nature (1 John 1:5).

(ὁ θεὸς φῶς ἐστὶν καὶ σκοτία οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτῷ οὐδεμία.)

φῶς= refers to primary light, as in sunlight, which enables the eye to discern for, color, and detail.

σκοτία= refers to absolute darkness in which sight is not possible- like blindness.

Used metaphorically of moral and spiritual deprivation.

οὐδεμία= at all, in any case.

(John 1:4-5)

(John 8:12)

1.

He is light, and sin is darkness.

2.

He is Holy and hates sin.

(I Peter 1:16)

(Lev 11:45)

*Light and darkness can’t coexist.

B. True fellowship is possible only when we walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7).

Anyone claiming to be living in fellowship with God while living in sin is lying!

Fellowship with God necessitates practicing the truth (οὐ ποιοῦμεν τὴν ἀλήθειαν) of God by walking in His light.

2. Fellowship with other believers is possible only when we walk [continually] in the light (ἐὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ φωτὶ περιπατῶμεν).

Condition of third class also with ἐαν [ean] and present active subjunctive

a.

We can only walk in unity together as we walk in the pure light of God.

ILL: imagine a group of people trying to walk toward a door in an absolutely darkened room.

Collisions and conflicts are inevitable!

3. Cleansing from sin occurs when we walk in the light.

a.

Because then we can see the sin to confess it.

Then the blood of the sinless Son of God cleanses us of ALL SIN!

(Hebrews 9:11-15)

b.

Because then we can see the right way to walk.

(Titus 2:14)

II – I AM NO-LONGER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE OLD SINFUL NATURE (1 John 1:8).

A. The old man of sin is still present within the believer.

1.

To deny this fact is to deceive yourself (Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ ἔχομεν, ἑαυτοὺς πλανῶμεν, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐν ἡμῖν οὐκ ἔστιν.)

*Paul’s Struggle (Romans 7:15-25)

B. The old man has to be brought under subjection to Christ.

1. Must purposefully put on the new man.

(Colossians 3:8-10)

III – I DON’T SIN ANYMORE (1 John 1:9-10)

A. Denial of sin does not remove its reality (1 John 1:10)

1.

To claim to be sin-free is to deny scripture.

a. “ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι οὐχ ἡμαρτήκαμεν” = This is a denial of any specific acts of sin, while in verse 8 we have the denial of the principle of sin.

b.

To make such a claim is to:

Call God a Liar, for he has said that all have sinned.

(Romans 3:23)

admit ignorance of God’s Word.

B. Deal with Sin and be cleansed (1 John 1:9).

We must make confession a continual practice.

(ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν = “if we keep on confessing.”

Confession of sin to God and to one another.)

(James 5:16)

2.

He is faithful (πιστός ἐστιν) and righteous (δικαιος) to forgive all our sins (ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας) and cleanse all of our wickedness (every kind or type, to the highest degree) (καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας.)

Paul illustrates the extent of Christ’s work in us:

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

CONCLUSION:

The beauty of our “Blessed Assurance” is that it frees us to serve Christ with all of our hearts.

The work of Christ and the seal of the Holy Spirit provide our safety-net!

Assurance Produces More Work

During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths.

For the last part of the project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was employed.

At least 10 men fell into it and were saved.

But an interesting sidelight is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety!