Tag Archives: 1 John 2

Calvary Connection 12/12/10

by • on 2:31 PM • in Bulletin

 

LOOKING AHEAD

December 19th  – Church Christmas Party – White Elephant * Youth Skit *

December 24th – Christmas Eve Service 6 pm

January 20th – Heart Sisters Kick Off Party Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm

February – Ladies Fellowship  “Prayer Journal Workshop” Date TBA  

Welcome to Calvary Chapel Buffalo!

December 12th   2010  

Pastor Pete Friese

   9:00 am – Morning Prayer

   9:30 am – Coffee is on in the kitchenette – Fellowship Time

   10:00 am – Worship Service

   10:00 am – Children’s Worship in the Fellowship Hall ages 4-10 

                                Pastor Pete’s Text: I John 2:15-17

      The Battle For My Heart

For a copy of today’s’ study, please leave your name at the sound-table and the number of copies you need and it will be ready

for you next Sunday! Copies $2.00 each

 

Listen Live 24/7! KSLW 99.5 FM streaming at www.preachthewordradio.com

 

* Thank you for being on time / lessens distraction during announcements

* Please keep children away from the stage, instruments and sound table

* Please turn off cell phones or set on vibrate

* NO FOOD OR DRINKS other than water in the sanctuary

                         

 Nursery ages 0-2  DROP OFF – on the landing at the top of the stairs. You will be given a number for your child and if you are needed that number will flash on the screen during the service. 

PICK UP -  please wait outside the nursery for your child and his/her belongings. Thanks for your cooperation!

Children 3 & up are invited to participate in our worship service. Children will be dismissed to Children’s Church after the singing!

If you plan to keep your babies downstairs during the service we ask that you sit in the back or in the cry room during the teaching to minimize distractions for those in the service, live on the radio, and those who are editing the message for KSLW. Thanks!

 2/21 Angie, Caleb, Suzanne, Leah  2/28 Kasandra, Ashley, Adam

 What’s happening this week at CCB

Tonight 6:00 pm –NO HOME FELLOWSHIP UNTIL JANUARY

Tonight 6:00 pm Youth Group – Play practice in the fellowship hall

Wednesday 6:30 pm – inductive & interactive Job Study

 Weekly Prayer Focus – Story Community Church

 Nursery & Children’s Information

DROP OFF children ages 0-3 before announcements. Please provide necessary info to our workers for your children’s needs. Our workers will notify you if your child needs you! Parents encouraged using the cry room if you would like to console your child during the service to minimize distractions & the service being broadcast on KSLW in the sanctuary.

 PICK UP – Please wait outside the nursery for your child & his/ her belongings

3 year olds now stay downstairs in the nursery for the entire service

4 year olds can go to Children’s Worship in the Fellowship Hall

Children ages 4-10 can be dropped off in the fellowship hall for Children’s Worship before announcements. They will then dismiss to their SS classes.  Teachers will bring them back over to the sanctuary after they are dismissed.

 Nursery Workers 12/12 Adam, Ashley, Jakob 12/19 Angie, Tiffany, Alescea

  STIR UP THE GIFTS! – Would you consider helping with these ministries?

KSLW RADIO BROADCAST  assist with Sunday morning service being put on KSLW, it’s pretty easy so see Keri Pittman today about getting on the rotation to help with that!

GREETERS Would you like to pass our bulletins on Sunday mornings? See the Longs

Radio – Sound – Children – Nursery – Office – Cleaning – Computers – Grounds keeping – Greeting

NURSERY NEED  Thank you to those who stepped up to help the Tetens in nursery. What a blessing you are! The special need for January has been filled

GOSPEL FOR ASIA CHRISTMAS this year as a church we will be focusing on the Gospel for Asia ministry that allows you to donate $ for chickens, rabbits, goats, mosquito nets , wells and many other items that entire families can use. Catalogs are on the back table!

WHITE ELEPHANT CHRISTMAS PARTY   NEXT SUNDAY!  at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite holiday treat, soup, sandwiches or snacks. If you want to participate in the White Elephant please bring a hideous or useless gift to exchange! One gift per household please.

NEW!!! PREACH THE WORD WEBSITE / BLOG SITE Listen to past studies, link to the radio station to listen live, download study notes, join discussions and receive e-mail updates from Pastor Pete’s blog at preachthewordradio.com

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE  we will be doing a Christmas Eve service so if you would like to participate, please let Celeste know this week so she can work you into the rotation. Invite a friend out for this special evening of worship.

HEART SISTERS  In lieu of Secret Sisters for 2011, we will be starting a new program called Heart Sisters. The emphasis is friendship, fellowship and ministering to one another one to one rather than doing things for one another anonymously. If you would like to participate, please take a form and turn it into Celeste by January 1st. We will have a kick off party for 2011 on January 20 and you will be paired with another lady from our church and given a calendar and some instructions to get you going on this fun new ladies program. For more info on how it works or other questions, see the flyers or talk to Celeste.

CHRITSMAS TEA  A special thanks to the ladies who helped with the set up, serving and clean up for the Christmas Tea. It meant so much to have your help in making it such a lovely night! May God bless each one of you who helped – Love, Celeste

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”                               – Corrie Ten Boom

PRAISES

Thanks to those of you who keep up with snow removal – you are appreciated!

PRAYERS

Church finances – for God to provide for our needs in this rough economic time

CCB has many needs for volunteers to step forward – pray for obedient hearts

Those suffering with cancer – grace and mercy upon them and their families

Pastor Nels’ mother recovering from back surgery at age 92

Safe travel for the Hulls coming home this week

Those who need a good job – favor at this time in a tough economy

Ashley Teten – due at any time – healthy baby and safe delivery

Spiritual Warfare in our church, our families our homes

Single parents / Singles – God’s provision, guidance and encouragement

Parents – wisdom in raising their children to honor the Lord in this season

Our fragile nation – risk of our religious freedoms at stake, economy

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem – “I will bless those that bless thee”

Military – Ben Johnson, Adam Fink, Bridger Vaselin, Isaiah  Adams , Nick Williams

               Kirk Simeral and their units deployed throughout the world

 REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT WE SUPPORT

Gospel for Asia – Mark Devandrappe  Siloam Ministries – Al Schubert

Vision Beyond Borders  - Pat Kline, KSLW,  KLWD & KWCF radio

 Gospel Recordings – Surrendra Shrethra

Compassion Intl Children – Asiimlie, Jordan & Kaline & families

NOTE CHANGES!  Monthly Events  Communion – 1st Sunday of the month

Men’s Breakfast – 3rd Sat of the mo 7am ~  Ladies Brunch – 4th Sat of the mo 9am

Workers on the Wall 2nd Sunday of the month * Baby Dedication – 3rd Sunday

Elders/Deacons Meeting 2nd Thurs * Potluck 1st Sunday of the month – noon

Jr / Sr High Youth Group – Sunday nights 6 pm during Adult Prayer time

Sunday Night Prayer time located at the Frieses’ 425 S Cummings 6:00 pm

Church Address  40 N  Desmet, Buffalo Wyoming 82834   Phone 307-684-8725  

Church Website and download church calendar  calvarychapelbuffalo.com

NEW! KSLW Office Hours Tuesday & Wednesday 10-3    Sundays 9:30 am

 KSLW  Phone 307-684-5134  

Pastor’s Study Day is Friday ~ no calls please   

Pastor’s day off/ family day is Monday ~ no calls please

If Pastor Pete is unavailable please contact one of the elders/ deacons

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Pastor Pete’s Study Notes 11/28/10

by • on 4:19 AM • in 1 John

“True Love”

1 John 2:8-11

 

 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

 A. John now adds a ‘NEW COMMANDMENT’

            1. This was a command given by Jesus to His disciples in -

 John 15:9-17      

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, (now here it is) that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

 B. In John 13:34-35, Jesus Himself called this a ‘NEW COMMANDMENT’

 John 13:34-35       A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 C. The Apostle John had seen Jesus with his own eyes

            1. He’d seen Jesus offer up His own life, for the sake of others

 “Jesus’ Love is true Love”

 D. And John says that the TRUE LOVE is not only seen in Christ, but in His followers

            1. That is, those who BELIEVE in Christ, will also display His love

  “If the true light of Jesus is shining in our hearts, then His love will be in us, and darkness will be gone.”     -Thomas Hale

 E. When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior;

            1. The darkness is passing away

            2. And the TRUE LIGHT of God’s LOVE begins to shine

 F. Sort of interesting to note here that the ‘darkness is PASSING AWAY’

            1. Just as it takes time for our eyes to ADJUST to light when we come out of the dark;

            2. So too, it takes time to adjust to the LIGHT of GOD’S LOVE

                        a. As we’re ADJUSTING, we’re actually GROWING IN HIS LOVE!

 G. In Verses 9-11, John now CONTRASTS between:

1. LOVE that is FALSE;

            2. And LOVE that is TRUE

3. Sort of a BAROMETER TEST

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

 A. In other words:

1. The person who claims to be a CHRISTIAN;

a. Yet HATES HIS BROTHER…Is still in DARKNESS

b. They are NOT REALLY SAVED

 B. Now some people might say:

1. “Well, I DON’T HATE my brother/sister/spouse/neighbor…”

            2. “I just don’t like them”

 C. Maybe that was you RIGHT NOW?

            1. May just now in your mind, God put somebody’s face in front of you…

                        a. And you just JUSTIFIED your HATRED by calling it something else?

 D. We’ll let’s see if that’s true, based on what the word ‘HATE’ here means:

 ‘HATE’ : “To detest or despise, especially to persecute.”

Withholding of LOVE – (Can be INWARD or OUTWARD)

Refusing to TALK to them

Desire for HARM

Bitterness/ resentment / anger

Flying off the handle at the mention of the person’s name –“I’m not angry at….!!!!”

***OFTEN Hatred may display itself in strong emotion, but not necessarily

Malicious, un-justifiable feelings towards others

Whether towards the INNOCENT, or by mutual animosity

Ever been HATED by someone & you didn’t even know they were mad at you?

Opposed to both the love of NATURAL AFFECTION & Godly love

Webster’s New World Dictionary:

 “To have strong feeling of dislike or ill will for or towards; To loath; To despise; To dislike; wish to avoid; shrink from. To look down upon with great contempt; feelings of malice; to detest; disgust; abhorrence.”

 The opposite of LOVE – diametrically opposed

Look up LOVE and you see the ANT. Of HATE

Look up HATE and you see the ant. Of LOVE

 E. Reminds me of what Jesus said in –

 Luke 16:13   No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

 F. “You can’t say that you LOVE GOD;

            1. And yet HATE your BROTHER

 G. LOVE and HATE cannot CO-EXIST w/in the SAME HEART

            1. You’ll either be given to LOVE

            2. Or you will be DOMINATED by HATE

 H. Jesus talks about  a man HATING his brother in -

 Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

 I. A lot of times, HATRED – CONTEMPT – RESENTMENT is:

1. The DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of UN-FORGIVENESS

 J. At one point, a person FEELS as though they were WRONGED by SOMEBODY: (maybe)

            1. Maybe a PARENT,

a. “You weren’t there for ME”

b. “you never showed any interest in my life”

c. “You always seemed to FAVOR my brother…sister…”

i. And it’s produced RESENTMENT, bitterness, un-forgiveness in you

 K. Maybe you were WRONGED by SIBLING,

            1. “Mom and dad always paid more attention to you, than any of us!”

            2. “You stole my boy friend / girl friend”

            3. She/he was always better at something

 L. Maybe its resentment towards a FRIEND / another CHURCH member

            1. They treated you WRONG/ UN-FAIR

            2. Un-kind

            3. Disliked by them

M. Maybe the REASON this morning you CAN’T BE FILLED with GOD’S LOVE is because;

            1. You are BITTER towards you SPOUSE…

a. “You never loved me, you’re never kind, you always treat me so bad”

N. What about BITTERNESS or RESENTMENT towards GOD!

                        a. “My life is such a joke”

                        b. “Why didn’t God give me better looks, better health, better spouse”

                        c. “My life is so hard, God must get a real charge out of my problems”

 O. TRUE or NOT, when a PERSON feels that they’ve BEEN WRONGED…

            1. WITHOUT the LOVE of CHRIST in their HEART…

            2. They FIRST WONT FORGIVE the WRONG DOER (even a perceived wrong)

 “Then what happens is that UN-FORGIVENESS produces BITTERNESS; Which ultimately ends up DEFILING their RELATIONSHIP with GOD.”

 P. Some of you may be STRUGGLING TREMENDOUSLY SPIRITUALLY;

            1. And it all REVOLVES back to HARBORING UN-FORGIVENESS

 Q. When we COME INTO THE LIGHT;

            1. We KNOW that we are in the LIGHT –

a. When God enables us to FORGIVE those who sin against us

 R. MANY PEOPLE claim that at one point in their life they CAME INTO THE LIGHT;

1. There was a time when they PRAYED A PRAYER…

2. But they NEVER REALLY GOT SAVED

                        a. They NEVER really CAME INTO the LIGHT

 S. They may have had an INTELLECTUAL EXPERIENCE with God:

            1. Heard the Gospel and intellectually received Christ

            2. But they never TRULY CAME INTO a personal RELATIONSHIP with Christ

 T. And as John says here, the MANIFESTATION or EVIDENCE of a FALSE CONVERT is:

            1. The PERSON who HATES/ person who CANNOT / WILL NOT FORGIVE

 U. And the EVIDENCE that they are NOT in the LIGHT;

1. Is DEMONSTRATED by their HATRED for their BROTHER

 V. HATRED for your BROTHER/SISTER is:

1. NOT an indication of  BACK SLIDING;

            2. But rather of NO SALVATION AT ALL

 W. John says that person was born in darkness, and remains in darkness even until now

            1. They simply never were saved at ANY POINT in their life

 X. UN-FORGIVENESS IS A CRUEL TASKMASTER!

            1. Concerning UN-FORGIVENESS, somebody once said:

 “Un-forgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting your enemy to die.”

 “I refuse to give any control over my life by harboring un-forgiveness in my heart towards them!”

 THE MODEL PRAYER

 Matthew 6:9-15
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 Y. Pretty serious REQUIREMENTS from God!

            1. He who CANNOT FORGIVE their DEBTORS

            2. God promises that NEITHER will HE FORGIVE their DEBTS

 Z. As John is describing here in 1 John 2 –

            1. The ABILITY/WILLINGNESS to forgive other people is a –

2. DECLARATION that you are WALKING in the LIGHT

            a. And the TRUTH IS IN YOU!

 Z1. However on the CONTRAST;

            1. He who HATES his BROTHER (evidence that you hate is in your un-forgiveness)

            2. And REFUSES to FORGIVE him his DEBT…is walking proof that…

                        a. That he is UNSAVED       

 Matthew 7:13-27
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

 “Not everyone who talking about heaven is going there.”

 Z2. That’s why I’m lingering on this point…(REMEMBER I’m talking to more than CCB)

            1. I’m pressing you by the power of God’s Holy Word—

a. Search your heart & be assured that you really are saved -

 Z3. You really have NOTHING TO LOSE, but EVERYTHING to GAIN;

            1. If you search your heart and find HATRED –

                        a. You could get SAVED TODAY

            2. If you search your heart and find LOVE;

                        a. Well then you have the ASSURANCE of ETERNAL LIFE!!!

10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

 A. If you are a living, breathing, walking display of GOD’S LOVE;

            1. Then you will have no occasion to STUMBLE yourself

            2. And NEITHER will you STUMBLE ANYONE else

 B. He who ABIDES in the LIGHT will ACTIVELY SEEK to keep from STUMBLING others

            1. The man who abides in GOD’S LOVE…

            2. Will NOT use his LIBERTY to give an OCCASION to STUMBLE others

 1 Corinthians 6:12    

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 1 Corinthians 10:23    

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

 1 Corinthians 8:9-13   

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

 C. Now that’s TRUE LOVE;

            1. Even though we may feel that we have the PERSONAL LIBERTY to

                        a. Partake in various areas…

                        b. If we know that it will stumble a brother…

                                    i. LOVE says – “Then I will never do that again”

 ILLUSTRATION:

Charles Spurgeon used to smoke tobacco during his years of preaching and he thought nothing of it until one day he walked past his favorite tobacco shop and saw a sign posted stating “Players Cigarettes…the choice of C. H. Spurgeon”. After that, Spurgeon gave up smoking so that he would never again stumble anyone.”

 B. That’s what LOVE looks like

            1. “I’m not going to use my liberties to stumble someone w/ a weak conscience”

 C. Let me ADD….

            1. That INCLUDES what you POST of FACEBOOK & TWITTER & emails

Romans 14:12-23    

 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

 “The darkness of sin, always makes men blind. Satan wants to blind you. He doesn’t want you to see his schemes. Above all, he doesn’t want you to see Jesus.”

 Conclusion:

 1. But you FACE A DECISION now, Will you RESPOND?

            a. Are you walking in LOVE?

            b. Or have you been SECRETLY HATING your brother?

 2. I’m going to give you time this morning to deal with this issue before God;

            1. You may need to get up and confess your attitude towards someone here

            2. You may need to come forward and kneel at the altar & confess your sin

 3. Or maybe this morning God has CONVICTED your heart & you now realize that-

            1. You aren’t saved

            2. “Behold today is the day of salvation”

4. If God has convicted you of an area of your life;

            1. I’m going to encourage you to deal with it right now

 5. Don’t let this GIFT of GOD’S CONVICTION pass you by!

            1. You have a CHOICE…

a. RESPOND, or grow HARDER

 “Repent of your bitterness & let Him fill you with HIS LOVE!”

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1 John 2:7 – “Love One Another”

by • on 11:12 PM • in 1 John

“Love One Another” 

1 John 2:7

INTRO:

(1 Cor. 13)

A. Last week, the Apostle John taught on:

            1. the exhortation to ‘NOT LIVE IN SIN’

            2. If we do sin, we have an ADVOCATE

            3. He Himself, is our PROPITIATION for our sins – for entire world

B. John also gave the TEST of KNOWING HIM—-EXPERIENTIALLY-

            1. We demonstrate that we EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW HIM by –

                        a. KEEPING His COMMANDMENTS –

                        b. Keeping God’s PRECEPTS

                        c. All the PRECEPTS/COMMANDMENTS given to us by Christ & epistles

C. In V4 then, John said that anyone who CLAIMS TO BE SAVED;

            1. Yet DOES NOT OBEY God’s Word is a LIAR

            2. And they REALLY AREN’T SAVED

D. They may have an INTELLECTUAL SALVATION

            1. But they REALLY AREN’T SAVED EXPERIENTIALLY

E. The Word of God declares that those who are TRULY SAVED, will:

            1. KEEP God’s commandments

            2. And they will also –

F. ABIDE

            1. More than to just DWELL in the PRESENCE

            2. The idea of FAMILY, interaction, LOVE, participation, Working through problems

G. The true believer will also WALK, even as CHRIST WALKED

            1. We will live like CHRIST

H. The TRUE BELIEVER:

            1. Keeps God’s Commandments

            2. Abides in Christ

            3. Walks like Christ

I. And NOW TODAY;

            1. John CONTINUES this THOUGHT on EXPERIENTIAL FAITH

J. The TRUE believer will also-

            1. EXPERIENTIALLY demonstrate the LOVE OF GOD

“Love is the preeminent mark of a genuine believer. Love for God is the benchmark of one’s relationship to Him, and love for other people is the epitome of human relationships. Because love is the saint’s highest moral duty toward others, it is not only the ultimate mark of genuine salvation, but also provides the supreme assurance of that reality.”                        – John MacArthur

K. And this is the very thing that the APOSTLE JOHN now continues to teach us

            1. As we continue in Verse 7

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

A. The Word ‘BRETHREN’ is better translated ‘BELOVED ONES’

            1. It refers to ‘GOD’S DIVINE LOVE’

            2. It is, ‘DIVINELY-LOVED ONES’

            3. This is the same word for LOVE as used in:

John 3:16    For God so loved (Divinely-loved) the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us (divinely…) love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is (Divine…) love.

The Word ‘COMMANDMENT’ here is ‘A PRECEPT’

            1. Again, not in the sense of the MOSAIC LAW

            2. But as an EXHORTATION to the CHRISTIAN, it’s an INJUNCTION

“Which you have had from the beginning”

            1. Refers to the BEGINNING of their SALVATION

A. John no doubt here could remember back to the time when Jesus had just silenced the —

Matthew 22:34-40
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced…… the Sadducees, they gathered together.
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

B. At this point historically, the rabbis had long since started on that vast work of-

            1. Elaboration of the Law that ultimately evolved into the TALMUD

C. Already their commentaries and rulings and binding traditions-

            1. Had begun to replace the Torah in authority

D. The scribes divided all 613 commandments of the Mosaic Law;

            1. Into 248 Do’s (the number of the members of the body, as they counted them)

            2. And 365 Don’ts (One negative commandment for each day of the year)

E. They also saw great significance, too, in there being –

            1. Not only 613 commandments in the Law

            2. But also 613 letters in the Decalogue (The 10 Commandments)

F. They greatly elaborated the Law

            1. Expanding to the point of absurdity

2. For instance, the commandments concerning keeping the Sabbath—

G. According to a 1987 Associated Press story;

1. Here is how an ultra Orthodox Jew observes the Sabbath:

“Before the Jerusalem Sabbath siren wails at sundown Friday night, Orthodox Jews unscrew the light bulbs in their refrigerators so as not to inadvertently turn them on and violate the Sabbath. They turn off their water heaters. They hide money because it is a reminder of daily labor instead of divine rest. They cut their toilet paper in advance because ripping it would violate religious regulations. They light tall white candles moments before sundown because striking a match is banned during the Sabbath. These are some of the acts prohibited during the Sabbath: taking a bath, opening an umbrella, touching a pen (because they feel writing is work). Strict but complicated “carrying laws” govern what objects may be lifted and how far they may be moved.

Much of the Sabbath is spent in three long ritual meals, usually shared with friends who arrive on foot and interrupted frequently by blessings and ancient Hebrew songs. Each meal begins with bread seasoned heavily with salt, which all must eat to remind them of coming out of Egypt with Moses. Cooking is forbidden. Pre-cooked food is kept warm by turning a burner on low before the Sabbath and covering it with a copper plate that stays hot. Games are permitted during the Sabbath but restricted. “Fish” a card game of making pairs, is preferable to “Monopoly” which requires use of play money. Even conversation is regulated (I think that’s a good idea, even at church). Topics of work, politics or commerce are banned. Orthodox Jews strictly limit travel on the Sabbath. Unless one lives within the prescribed allowed walking distance, he cannot attend synagogue services. Many of these regulations are well intentioned but carried to the extreme

H. Many other O.T. laws were elaborated on, and contained in the Talmud, such as

            1. Ceremonially washing before a meal

            2. Mixing of materials in a garment (Bra / blended materials – braking the law)

            3. Turning on a light (kindling a fire)

            4. Distance – got around that by tying ropes to their property to extend travel area

            5. Drinking – sift the drink through their teeth, so as to not swallow a gnat

            6. Dietary laws; Circumcision; Ritual Sacrifices; Feast days; Fasting days

I. The Jews became CONSUMED by EXTERNAL KEEPING of the LAWS;

1. While they overlooked their HEARTS

Matthew 23:23-28
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

J. In all forms of RELIGION, man is CONCERNED with APPEARANCE;

            1. While GOD IS CONSUMED on the HEART

1 Samuel 16:7   But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

K. And this is really what JOHN is stating here in his EPISTLE;

            1. ‘Those who EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW GOD…will LOVE from their HEARTS’

L. It’s EASY to PRETEND to LOVE your BROTHER or SISTER;

            1. And you may be able to PRESENT a FACADE, but GOD SEES the HEART

M. That’s why CHRIST REBUKED the PHARISEES;

            1. They were HYPOCRITES

            2. They APPEARED to be one way…

                        a. But in their HEARTS, they were another person

‘HYPOCRITE’

1. The term used of GREEK ACTORS who stood on stage

            2. Wearing a LARGE MASK, to indicate HAPPY/SAD/ FEAR etc…

HYPOCRITE

1. A person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

2. A person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Examples of HYPOCRITE

  1. A HYPOCRITE might be one who criticize other people for not voting

a. But who don’t always vote themselves

       2. Or, as John says here, a HYPOCRITE is one who

            a. Says they LOVE GOD, but yet they HATE their NEIGHBOR

N. So the Jews has elaborated the LAW, to the point of absurdity

            1. They’d become so focused on EXTERNAL OBSERVANCE

            2. And the Jewish leaders laid LOADS on the PEOPLE that they could not bear

Matthew 23:1-7
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

James 2:10
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

K. The Rabbis had even made provisions for adultery, divorce,  murder & even HATRED!

1. It’s OK to COMMIT ADULTERY, DIVORCE, MURDER, HATE

2. You just must abide by the             ORAL TRADITIONS of the TALMUD

3. And they BEGAN to ELEVATE the TALMUD above GOD’S WORD!

Matthew 5:27-48  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

L. Some commandments they rated as great,

1. Some as small, or lesser significant

M. So the lawyers asked Jesus:

1. “What was the GREATEST COMMANDMENT of all the 613 laws”

N. Jesus took His questioner back to the great creedal statements of:

Deuteronomy 6:5           You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 10:12      “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 30:6
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

O. Jesus then summarized all man’s duty to God and all man’s duty to man in –

1. Two comprehensive statements that were already embedded in the Pentateuch

Leviticus 19:17-18       ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

P. This is exactly how Jesus responded to the lawyer who tried to trap Him –

Matthew 22:36-40       “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Q. The Apostle Paul said much the same thing in Romans 13:8-10

Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

R. Such was the OLD COMMANDMENT

            1. And such was the GREAT COMMANDMENT

“Love God supremely, love all men sincerely.”

S. All the other laws are expositions of these 2 rudimentary & revolutionary principles

            1. If everyone loved God and other people like that…

            2. Then we would not need the countless laws that tie us up in knots to this day

T. The 1st 4 COMMANDMENTS deal w/ mans relationship to GOD

            1. The last 6 Commandments deal w/ mans relationship to MAN

U. And here JOHN is teaching that if our RELATIONSHIP to GOD is CORRECT;

            1. Then it will be EVIDENCED by our RELATIONSHIP to MAN being CORRECT!

V. Essentially, God is saying:

            1. “Don’t tell me you have CORRECT LOVE for ME, if you DON’T love your brother”

W. I think of even what the Lord stated in MATT. 5

1. Concerning our INTERACTIVE relationship with HIM & our NEIGHBOR:

Matthew 5:21-24      “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

X. This whole idea then brings into play the BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of FORGIVENESS

            1. “Well, WHY DON’T you LOVE your brother?”

            2. “Well, you just have no idea what he / she did to me”

                        a. “Therefore I can NEVER FORGIVE THEM”

Y. Many Christians today are going through life;

            1. Wondering why they DON’T GROW, or why they have a broken fellowship w/ God?

            2. And the ANSWER MAY JUST LIE in UN-FORGIVENESS…

                        a. Either towards your BROTHER / SISTER / NEIGHBOR

                        b. Or in some cases, (bitterness) even TOWARDS GOD

Z. “I’m NOT bitter TOWARDS GOD, I’m bitter towards what happened to me”

            1. When in reality, your bitterness is against God & hindering your walk w/ Him

Exodus 16:4-8     Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us?” 8 Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

A. We may see our COMPLAINING as being directed against our circumstances;

            1. Yet, because GOD is SOVEREIGNLY directing the circumstances of our lives;

                        a. When we complain, it is really against the Hand of the Lord

B. Grumbling & Complaining, left unchecked –

1. Will EVENTUALLY develop into BITTERNESS

2. Which will BREAK DOWN our FELLOWSHIP with GOD & BRETHREN

C. Our RELATIONSHIP with GOD and ONE ANOTHER is INTERTWINED

            1. If I’m right with God;

            2. Then I am in POSITION to be RIGHT with my NEIGHBOR

D. But if I’m NOT RIGHT with my NEIGHBOR;

            1. Then I CAN’T be right with GOD

E. This is the BASE PRINCIPLE that John is TEACHING us here in his EPISTLE

            1. “Do you want to know if you are right with God?”

            2. “You will know if you DIVINELY-LOVE your NEIGHBOR”

F. Because GOD IS LOVE

            1. It stands to REASON that if I’m in FELLOWSHIP with GOD…

            2. Then I am in fellowship WITH DIVINE LOVE

            3. UN-CONDITIONAL LOVE

            4. LOVE that is MERCY FILLED

            5. Love that is GRACE CENTERED

            6. Love that DELIGHTS in FORGIVING the TRESPASSES of a BROTHER

G. But as Paul said in Gal. 5:13 -

Galatians 5:13-15      For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

H. And finally, I leave you with this same commandment from our Lord Himself:

John 13:33-35     Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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1 John 2:7 “Love One Another”

by • on 12:57 AM • in Sunday Teaser

Join us tomorrow for our Sunday morning worship service @ 10 am. Tomorrow we will be continuing our study from the book of 1 John 2, as we begin a study on this topic of ‘Love’.

Dr. John MacArthur states: “Love is the preeminent mark of a genuine believer. Love for God is the benchmark of one’s relationship to Him, and love for other people is the epitome of human relationships. Because love is the saint’s highest moral duty toward others, it is not only the ultimate mark of genuine salvation, but also provides the supreme assurance of that reality.”  

So far in 1 John 2, we have studied the law of 1) Keeping God’s Commandments 2) Abiding in Christ 3) Walking in Christ, and tomorrow we will study God’s commandment to 4) Love one another.

I pray that as we continue our study through this wonderful book of 1 John, that we will all grow in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ!

If you are unable to join us in our sanctuary tomorrow morning, you may still listen in on our live Sunday morning service via our live streaming feed on our ‘KSLW’ listen live player (10 am,).

For His glory,

Pastor Pete

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1 John 2:1-6

by • on 8:30 PM • in 1 John

“The Test of Knowing Him”

1 John 2:1-6

Intro:

 A. In Chapter 1, beginning in verse 5, John began this thought that he continues into chapter 2

1a My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.

A. “Little children” is the Greek word ‘teknia’

            1. This is a very loving term

            2. As a grandfather speaking to his grandchildren

            3. John was in his 90’s now, and with age he grew in his tenderness

            4. Some elderly people grow in bitterness, but John grew in his LOVE

                        a. For God and His children

B. And John is stating that this is God’s ideal for His children;

            1. That we sin not

C. Back in 1:9, John said “If we confess…”

            1. And so you have you always have those who think:

                        a. “Well, I’ll just go out and sin, and when I’m done & have had my fun…”

                        b. “I’ll just go ask God to forgive me, and all is well”

D. But here John in a very TENDER, GRANDFATHERLY way is saying:

            1. “Please don’t misunderstand me…”

E. He sees the possibility of a 2-fold perversion of his teaching:

#1. ‘If we can never in this life be done away with sin, why strive after holiness?

            a. “It’s useless”

            b. “If you can’t beat it, join it”

#2. ‘If escape is so easy, why dread falling into sin?’

            a. “It’s easy to sin, knowing that we have the blood of Jesus to cleanse us”

F. John is saying “No I am not writing these things to you either to discourage you in the pursuit of holiness or to embolden you in sin, but on the contrary, in order that you may sin not.”

Augustine put it this way:

“Lest perchance he should seem to have given impunity to sins, and men should now say to themselves, ‘let us sin, let us do securely what we will, Christ cleanses us; He is faithful and righteous, He cleanses us from all iniquity’; ‘he takes from thee evil security and implants useful fear. It is an evil wish of thine to be secure; be anxious. For He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, if thou art always displeasing to thyself and being changed until thou be perfect.’ As a physician might say to his patient: ‘your trouble is obstinate; the poison is in your blood, and it will take a long time to eradicate it. But I do not tell you this to discourage you or make you careless; no, on the contrary, to make you watchful and diligent in the use of the remedy’.

H. So the Apostle John, in a very tender way is lovingly warning them -

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. 1b And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

A. In this expression:

 “if anyone sins”

  • Speaks not of a habitual action, but of a SINGLE ACT
  • Could be better translated:
    • “If any man commit an act of sin”

 

“John regards sin in the believer’s life, not as habitual, but as extraordinary, as infrequent.”                                                                   – Kenneth S. Wuest

B. Our objective as God’s Children is to LIVE FREE FROM SIN;

            1. But IF WE DO SIN.. THEN we have an ADVOCATE WITH the Father

 ‘WITH’ is ‘pros’ “facing” the Father

  • “Our Advocate is always in fellowship with the Father in order that if the saint loses fellowship with Him through cherished and unconfessed sin, He might plead our cause on the basis of His precious blood, and bring us back into fellowship again.”

 

 ‘FACING’ (with)

  • Brings us to this solemn thought, that when we saints sin, the Lord Jesus must face the Father with us and our sin.

  

“The saint has been saved in His precious blood so that he may be able to keep from sinning, and when he does sin, he wounds the tender heart of the Saviour, and forces Him to face God the Father with that saint whom He has saved in His precious blood. How that should deter us from committing acts of sin!”

‘Advocate’ is actually the word ‘paraklētos’

  • “One called to your side”

 

C. In the SECULAR world of that day, an ‘ADVOCATE’ was referred to as –

“A friend of the accused person, called to speak to his character, or otherwise enlist the sympathy of the judges.”

D. This speaks directly of the Holy Spirit, where in John 14:  Jesus said:

John 14:15-1715 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you (Para) and will be in (en) you.

C. It is the Holy Spirit who comes alongside of you to help you

            1. The One who stands up for you

D. In this case, the ADVOCATE;

            1. One who will speak up for you or one who stands on your side

            2. JESUS, OUR ADVOCATE with the FATHER

E. So the goal is to live FREE OF SIN;

            1. But IF WE DO SIN…

                        a. Then we have an ADVOCATE with the Father

 1c ‘Jesus Christ the Righteous.”

“Only the guiltless, the One that is separate from sin, can be the Advocate with God for sinners, in general, the Mediator of salvation, and makes His friendship for us prevalent with God, because only such a one has access to God and fellowship with God. What better advocate could we have for us, than He that is appointed to be our judge.”             – Wuest, Word Studies p. 110

2 And He Himself (Jesus Christ) is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

‘Propitiation’

  • “Signifying that He Himself, through Him alone, the violated holiness and righteousness of God by man’s sin has been propitiated (satisfied).”
  • “This is a personal means through which God shows MERCY to the sinner who believers on the Lord Jesus Christ as the One thus provided.”
  • In a NUT SHELL:
    • ‘Christ Himself provided a way for us to be reconciled to God – Not of works lest anyone should boast’
    • Because Jesus Christ is the PROPITIATION for ALL who BELIEVE, we have (and experience) the MERCY of God
    • The Death of Christ has satisfied the HOLINESS of God, so that we might be RECONCILED to Him

 

A. In CONTRAST to the N.T. definition, the PAGAN USAGE meant:

‘Propitiation’ – “To Appease, to conciliate to one’s self, to make a god propitious to one – the offering of gifts.”

 

“The scriptural conception of the verb is not that of appeasing one who is angry with a personal feeling against the offender; but of altering the character of that which, from without, occasions a necessary alienation, and interposes an inevitable obstacle to fellowship.”    - Canon Westcott

A. Jesus Christ Himself became the propitiation for all our sins

            1. When Christ died on the cross of Calvary…

            2. He assumed all our guilt and paid our penalty in His own blood

            3. Thereby removing our alienation from God

B. Now as believers, we can experience God’s MERCY

            1. On the basis of JUSTICE SATISFIED

C. Who did Christ die for? The Whole World

            1. So that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in Him should not perish,

            2. But will have ETERNAL LIFE

D. Hyper Calvinism teaches that Christ only died for the ELECT;

            1. But here John tells us that He died for the sin the of WHOLE WORLD

            2. I’ll stick with what Scripture teaches

E. The Precious blood of Jesus Christ was shed to pay for every sin a man may commit

            1. Except for the sin of rejecting Christ as Saviour

Matthew 12:31-32   “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

F. So Praise God!

            1. Jesus Christ Himself has become the PROPITIATION for our sins;

            2. And NOT ONLY OUR, but for ALL WHO will put their faith in Him!

 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

A. John now sort of addresses this question:

            1. “How can I be assured that Christ is all this to me?”

            2. MY:

                        a. Propitiation; Advocate

“How can I be sure that I have an abiding interest in Him?”

B. John gives us several assurances here and in the next few verses:

#1. We know that we know Him, or have a personal relationship with Him because we –

            1. KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

         

“We don’t keep His commandments in order to be saved, but rather, we keep His commandments as proof that He has become our propitiation, our Advocate.”

 

  • The Evidence of my salvation is demonstrated in my obedience to Christ

 

 ‘BY (in) THIS’…    (the proof that we know Christ, is seen…)

  • If we keep His commandments

 

‘We KNOW Him…’ – “To know by EXPERIENCE”

  • This is a knowledge that is experienced day to day, in walking with Him and keeping His commandments

 

“To know Him refers to a past complete act having present results.”

“If we are keeping His commandments, we know that we have in time past come to know Him with the present result that that state of knowing Him is true of us in the present time.” -Wuest

C. In other words, we PROVE that we KNOW the LORD based on HOW we LIVE

            1. My life DEMONSTRATES this REALITY

            2. We DON’T just ‘TALK the TALK’, but we ‘LIVE THE LIFE’

D. People should be able to look upon our lives and say:

            1. “Based on how they live, I can see that they KNOW the LORD – experientially”

E. This word ‘KEEP’ (keep His commandments)

‘KEEP’ – “to attend to carefully, to guard, observe.”

 

“The word [keep], does not merely speak of the act of obeying His commands, but of a solicitous desire that we do not disobey any of them but on the other hand, that we obey them perfectly. It is a holy fear of disobeying God as expressed in the word phobos (fear) 1 Peter. It is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes high-mindedness in the admonition, ‘be not high-minded but fear’. It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Savior. It is the saint’s love for God’s Word and His guardianship of that Word lest it be dishonored. To ‘keep’ is a continuous action. It is the habitual, moment by moment safeguarding of the Word by the saint lest he violate its precepts.”                                                                                                   – Alford / Robertson

‘COMMANDMENTS’ – does not refer to the ‘MOSAIC LAW’ but rather: “An order, command, charge, precept.”

F. The ‘PRECEPTS’ or ‘COMMANDMENTS’ are –

            1. Those given by our Lord either PERSONALLY

             2. Or through His Apostles in the N.T. books

 Thus EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE looks like:

  • A Solicitous guarding of the precepts of Christ (paying careful attention to details)
    • A Consuming desire they be honored
      • A passionate determination that they always be kept
        • (This is proof gained from experience that a person has come to an experiential knowledge of the Lord Jesus is at present in that state of knowing Him.)

 

“Experiential knowledge is in contrast with and opposed to a mere theoretical knowledge of His Person.”                                             -W. S. Wuest

 
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

A. The literal expanded translation of this verse actually reads:

“He who keeps on saying, I have come to know Him experientially with the present result that I am in that state, and His precepts is not habitually guarding with solicitous care, is a liar, and in this one the truth does not exist.”

B. This verse really describes the UNBELIEVER, or the FALSE CONVERT

            1. A lot of people say that they have made a “PROFESSION OF FAITH”

            2. “Yet those who do not keep His Commandments is a liar”

                        a. And the Holy Spirit does not DWELL within him

C. Now somebody might say “WELL, YOU’RE JUDGING ME!”

            1. No, I’m not, the BIBLE is telling you what your SALVATION will look like

D. If you are truly saved, you will live in a HOLY FEAR of God, as DEMONSTRATED by

            1. KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS

E. The Word of God tells what the Christian life will look like:

“He who claims to be a Christian (know God), yet doesn’t keep God’s Commandments is a liar, and he is living in self-deception.”

F. These are really those who will stand before Christ one day, only to hear Him say:

            1. “Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, for I never knew you.”

G. I’m so thankful for the WORD OF GOD that spells it out before we get there!

            1. “If we would judge ourselves now, we will not be judged one day before Christ.”

H. I’d much rather find out NOW, that:

1. I really didn’t have an EXPERIENTIAL RELATIONSHIP w/ God

2. Than one day DIE and find out

            a. How much better to know today

 “The true believer, as a habit of life obeys the Word of God.”

I. So John describes the FALSE CONVERT in Verse 4, and now in V5, the TRUE convert—

            1. He who can walk in the confidence of EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE —-


5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

A. To OBEY GOD’S WORD is to DEMONSTRATE our LOVE for HIM;

            1. To say that ‘I LOVE GOD’ yet live in DISOBEDIENCE is to live a LIE; w/o truth

B. I can make up all kinds of wonderful songs and statements / plaques, about my love for God;

            1. But TRUE LOVE for God is DISPLAYED in BIBLICAL OBEDIENCE

C. Unfortunately, too many people equate their love for GOD as an EMOTION;

            1. And as LONG as they are EXPERIENCING this EMOTION or FEELING of (love)

            2. They feel that they truly love God

            3. Yet, as John declares here, TRUE love for God is demonstrated through our obedience

1 Samuel 15:22-23     So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

D. A lot of people in our age, going through life self-deceived;

            1. Living in Sin, telling themselves that they LOVE GOD –

                        a. Yet living in DISOBEDIENCE to His Word

E. It’s very important to REMEMBER that –

1. The HOLY SPIRIT will NEVER contradict God’s Written Word

F. If you chose to LIVE IN SIN, in a life of DISOBEDIENCE;

            1. You really DON’T LOVE GOD,

a. No matter how EMOTIONAL you might FEEL when you’re high / IN SIN

‘KEEP’ speaks of “habitual, continuous action.”

“Thus whoever keeps on continually keeping the Word. This is the one who has a solicitous, watchful care for the Word so as to guard it from being disobeyed but on the other hand, obeyed.”                                         – K. S. Wuest

 

 “He who claims to love God, yet lives in [perpetual] disobedience is a liar; and he who keeps God’s commandments, lives in truth and the truth is in him.” – Vincent

G. In KEEPING God’s Commandments, His LOVE is PERFECTED in us

“God’s love is perfected in us in that it accomplishes that for which it is intended, namely to cause the saint to obey God’s Word.”

H. NOT because he SHOULD

            1. NOT because it’s the RIGHT THING to do

            2. NOT in order to ESCAPE chastening…

I. BUT RATHER, we OBEY the Word of God because:

            1. We LOVE the LORD JESUS CHRIST

“We don’t obey the Word of God because we HAVE TO; we obey because the LOVE OF GOD has been shed abroad upon our hearts, and it is our life’s desire to please our Master!”

J. It is simply NATURAL to want to PLEASE the ONE you LOVE!

            1. So if the Love of God has been perfected w/in my heart, it will be my desire to Obey

                        His Commandments & be PLEASING to my LORD

K. Paul tells us in Gal. 5:1-26, that we’re NOT UNDER the LAW;

            1. I don’t have a LEGAL RELATIONSHIP with my LORD

            2. I have a LOVING RELATIONSHIP with my LORD

                        a. And the EVIDENCE of that LOVE is seen in my OBEDIENCE! J
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

‘Abide’ – “To remain, to sojourn, tarry. More than merely to position.”

 A. It is used very often of PERSON’S ABIDING IN A HOME;

            1. Which IMPLIES more than MERE POSITION

            2. But RATHER:

‘Abide’

  • FELLOWSHIP
    • COMMUNION
      • DEPENDENCE
        • HARMONY
          • FRIENDSHIP

 

B. To ABIDE in the LORD JESUS therefore implies NOT ONLY POSITION;

            1. But RELATIONSHIP

                        Fellowship; Communion; Dependence; Harmony; Friendship

* 3 GREEK WORDS which gives the 3 aspects of a BELIEVER’S LIFE

#1. ‘Eimi’ – “Refers to the saint’s position in Christ

            1. When we were BAPTIZED by the HOLY SPIRIT into Christ — 1 Cor. 12:13

 #2. ‘Meno’ – (present use of ‘abide’) “Refers to the saint’s fellowship with and dependence upon Him, communion, closeness of union.”

 #3. ‘Peripateo’ – To order one’s behavior to conduct one’s self”

            1. This speaks of the saint’s manner of live

  • Position
    • Fellowship/Dependence/Communion
      • Order of Behavior

 

 C. In Verse 6 here, also notice this word ‘OUGHT’

‘Ought’ – “To owe money, be in debt for, to be under obligation, bound by duty or necessity to do something, it behooves one, one ought.”

D. If you are ABIDING in Christ;

            1. Then you are OBLIGATED to ‘walk just as He walked”

‘Walk’ – “Emphasizing habitual, continuous action.”

“The Christ-like life here admonished must be the continuous, habitual, moment by moment experience of the believer, no spasmodic, infrequent sort of thing.”

CONCLUSION:

 John 15:1-17

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