Reasons for Writing
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
A Presbyterian Minister once shared this experience from his childhood.
He said...
“When I was a child, my minister father brought home a 12-year-old boy named Roger, whose parents had died from a drug overdose.
There was no one to care for Roger, so my folks decided they’d just raise him as if he were one of their own sons.
At first it was quite difficult for Roger to adjust to his new home—an environment free of heroine-addicted adults!
Every day, several times a day, I heard my parents saying to Roger:
“No, no. That’s not how we behave in this family.”
“No, no. You don’t have to scream or fight or hurt other people to get what you want.”
“No, no, Roger, we expect you to show respect in this family.”
And in time Roger began to change.
Now, did Roger have to make all those changes in order to become a part of the family?
No.
He was made a part of the family simply by the grace of my father.
But did he then have to do a lot of hard work because he was in the family?
You bet he did.
It was tough for him to change, and he had to work at it.
But he was motivated by gratitude for the incredible love he had received.
Do you have a lot of hard work to do now that the Spirit has adopted you into God’s family?
Certainly.
But not in order to become a son or a daughter of the heavenly Father.
No, you make those changes because you are a son or daughter.
And every time you start to revert back to the old addictions to sin, the Holy Spirit will say to you, “No, no. That’s not how we act in this family.”
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So, please turn your Bibles to the 1 John.
We will be conducting our study in Chapter 2 and focus on verses 12 through 14.
Our message this morning called “Reasons for Writing”
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Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) Little Children = All Believers
1) Little Children = All Believers
Verse 12: I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
The phrase “little children” is a popular term used by John throughout this letter.
When John uses this term he is referring to all genuine born-again believers.
So, John is saying that this letter is to be read and understood by all who follow Christ...
And those who follow Christ are Children of God.
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Remember...
No everyone is a Child of God.
We may all be created in the image of God.
But every reference to Children of God is exclusively meant for those who actually believer in Jesus.
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In fact, there only exists two families in the eyes of God.
One is either part of...
The Children of Satan
Or they are a part of...
The Children of God.
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There is no in between or third option.
Just take a look at John 8:39–44 to see how Jesus talks about the subject.
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
So, we are all part of a family...
But we have to ask ourselves...
Are you a part of Satan’s family?
Or are you a part of God’s family?
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Next in verse 12 we see that it says for the Children of God all their sins are forgiven for His name sake.
Those who can rightly say they are part of the family of God have nothing to boast about.
They are not forgiven for their sins because of any merit.
They are not forgiven because of their good works.
They are not forgiven because of what they would do in the future.
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They are only forgiven for His name sake....
Because of God’s grace...
Because of God’s mercy...
Because it brings glory to God are one’s sins forgiven.
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The one who was called a “man after God’s heart” understood this.
Look at what David said in Psalm 25:11:
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
David is rightly pleading with God...
To be forgiven for the glory of God.
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You see, Church....
The Bible...
It’s not about you.
It’s not about how God couldn’t live without you.
It’s not about God needing you because you are so wonderful and awesome.
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The Bible is about God.
It’s about His glory.
God doesn’t need me...
We need Him.
We are not the one’s who are wonderful and awesome.
It is Him who is all wonderful and all awesome.
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And your salvation is not about what you did.
God is the author of salvation....
And your salvation is about what He did.
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Now, let’s look at who John talks to next in his letter.
2) Fathers = Mature Believers
2) Fathers = Mature Believers
Verse 13a: I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
The term “fathers” that John is using in this verse is referring to mature believers.
Those are the individuals that have a proper understanding sound doctrine.
But not only that.
These are individuals that practice what they preach.
They don’t just know biblical doctrine well...
They also practice in their daily lives.
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These are individuals who are active in their communities at spreading the Gospel and training up the next generation of believers.
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John says these individuals are fathers because they know Him who is from the beginning.
That means those mature in the faith have a deep relationship with Jesus whom they know is God as He is from the beginning.
The language of Jesus being from the beginning is commonly used by John...
Just take a look at what he says in John 1:1–2:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
Paul describes what it means to be from the beginning when he describes Jesus in Colossians 1:15–17:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Next, John addresses the young men.
3) Young Men = Believers with Sound Doctrine
3) Young Men = Believers with Sound Doctrine
Verse 13b: I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
The “young men” John is referring to in this verse is in reference to believers who are not new but also not yet mature.
These are believers who have a pretty good understanding of sound doctrine but still need to grow in their daily walk with the Lord until they would be considered mature believers.
These believers have being on the path of sanctification for some time but still need some more discipleship until they can take on a leadership role in the church or in ministry but they are on the way.
Even with room to grow, they have overcome the evil one as John said.
So, they understand well what it says in Ephesians 6:12–13:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
They understand that they are able to overcome the evil one not by their own abilities but by the power that now lives in them as it says in 1 John 4:4.
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Next, John will address those who are new to the faith.
4) Children = New Believers
4) Children = New Believers
Verse 13c: I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
The “children” John is referring to is different than the “little children” he refers to in verse 12.
In our English language it is difficult to see but in the original ancient Greek it is clear as the term is a whole different word.
Take a look at this note from the MacArthur New Testament commentary on the Letters of John...
It said,
“The term rendered children (which is ‘paidia’ in Greek) is different from the term rendered “little children” (which is ‘teknia’ in Greek) in verse 12.
As noted above, ‘teknia’ refers to all the children of God.
But ‘paidia’ denotes more specifically young children, those still under parental instruction.
Such children are ignorant and immature and in need of care and guidance.
Immature spiritual children are those who know the Father in the same way as an infant has little more than a basic knowledge of his or her parents.
The distinguishing characteristic of babes in Christ is that they are consumed with their new-found relationship to the God and Savior they have come to know savingly, and with the resulting joy and peace of that knowledge.
But they are still infants, who have yet to feast on the nourishing spiritual meat of sound doctrine.”
As new believers...
These individuals need to be very careful that they are not mislead by bad theology and false doctrine.
Being a new believer is something every believer experiences but it is not a state we want to stay in.
It is vital that we grow.
Take a look at what Paul says about the matter in Ephesians 4:14–15:
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
So, new believers do have a saving knowledge of God as John says in this verse...
But it is imperative that new believers know sound doctrine....
And for those who do know sound doctrine and for those who are mature in the faith...
We are to protect new believers by discipling them...
By holding them accountable in their walk with Christ.
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And the only way to know sound doctrine and grow in sanctification...
Is to abide in God’s Word...
And this takes us to our final point...
5) Abiding in the Word of God
5) Abiding in the Word of God
Verse 14: I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
The first part of verse 14 is a repeat of the first part of verse 13 is which we already covered about mature believers.
This is to signify how important this point is.
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The second half of verse 14 address the young men again.
Here, John says those believers with sound doctrine are spiritually strong because they abide in the Word of God...
And it is because of this reliance on Scripture that believers with a proper understanding of sound doctrine are able to overcome the evil one with the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in them.
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So see Beloved, after we become believers there is a reason we are not immediately beamed up to heaven.
Once we become believers that is when the real work starts...
That is when the spiritual battles really intensify.
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But I do not want you to lose heart.
I want to remind you of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer for His followers in John 17:
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
So, hold on to the words that our Lord and Master prayed for us...
And hold on to the Word of God like it says in Joshua 1:8:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
And remember the truth found in 2 Timothy 3:16–17:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
And hold on to Colossians 3:16 as it says:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
As this message comes to a close I want to share this from Pastor Bryan Chapell.
He said,
“Several years ago my wife, Kathy, and a friend gathered up their kids and made a trip to the St. Louis Zoo.
A new attraction had just opened called “Big Cat Country,” which took the lions and tigers out of their cages and allowed them to roam in large enclosures.
Visitors observe the cats by walking on elevated skyways above the habitats.
As my wife and her friend took the children up one of the skyway ramps, a blanket became entangled in the wheel of the friend’s stroller.
Kathy knelt to help untangle the wheel while our boys—roughly ages three and five—went ahead.
When next she looked up, Kathy discovered that the boys had innocently walked right through a child-sized gap in the fencing and had climbed up on the rocks some 20 or 25 feet above the lion pen.
They had been told that they would be able to look down on the lions, and they were doing just that from their hazardous vantage point. Pointing to the lions below, they called back to their mother, “Hey, Mom, we can see them!”
They had no concept of how much danger they were in.
Kathy saw immediately.
But now what could she do?
If she screamed, she might startle the boys perched precariously above the lions.
The gap in the fence was too small for her to get through.
So she knelt down, spread out her arms, and said, “Boys, come get a hug.”
They came running for the love that saved them from danger greater than they could perceive.
With similar love, our Savior beckons us from temptation that would devour us.”
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This story really reminds of of the love that Christ has for us.
Not only did He advocate for us during His high priestly prayer...
He gave His life for us...
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And it is now about the remembrance of that great sacrifice of our great Savior that we bring our attention to.
Communion
Communion
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As we begin our communion service I want to invite every genuinely born-again believe in the room to partake in this act together.
If you do not yet know the Lord and have a relationship with Him or if you are under church discipline from this church or another church they I will ask that you wait until you have resolved your issue before participating.
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As you came in you should have picked up a communion packet if you are joining us.
This has both the bread and juice in a convenient package.
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If you have not recieved one of these please raise your hand and one of our deacons will get you one.
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Turn with me in your copy of God’s Word to the Gospel of Matthew.
Let us take a look at this account of the Last Supper.
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Let us take a look at Matthew 26:17–29:
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.
21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
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As Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper we now com together in communion in remembrance of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary.
For He shed His blood for us...
And paid a debt would could never pay.
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Tom will you pray before we partake in the bread:
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The Word of God says in Luke 22:19:
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
(TAKE THE BREAD)
Adrian will you pray before we partake in the juice:
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The Word of the God says in Luke 22:20:
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(TAKE THE JUICE)
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With that we conclude the communion portion of our service.
Please join us for one more song from the Praise Band.
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