Studies in First John - Message 2

This is the message……..

1 John 1:5 - 2:2
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. NKJV

John's purpose in writing this epistle, as we saw in the first study, is quite simply that we might KNOW the truth. In these five short chapters, 105 verses, the verb KNOW appears 39 times. It's a penetrating book - intensely practical, pragmatic. Heb 4:12, the word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing between the thoughts and intents of the heart. This epistle is exactly that - sharp. Dealing with practical outworking of God's word in our lives. The Word here becomes like a mirror in which we see ourselves.

To help us recognise the truth - we're given seven contrasts
To help us live the truth - we're given seven tests

The Seven Contrasts
1. Light vs darkness (1:5 - 2:11)
2. The Father vs the World (2:12 - 2:17)
3. Christ vs Antichrist (2:18 - 2:28)
4. Good works vs evil works (2:29 - 3:24)
5. The Holy Spirit vs spirit of error (4:1 - 4:6)
6. The God kind of love vs false love (4:7 - 4:21)
7. Hallmarks of those born of God vs those born of the world (5:1 - 5:21)

The Seven Tests
1. Test of fellowship with God (1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie…
2. Test of Self-deception (1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (not acknowledging sin at all) If we are truly just random evolution then how on earth do you account for evil and wickedness, malice etc.
3. Test of Self-righteousness (1:10) If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us (not acknowledging that I've sinned)
4. Test of Hypocrisy (2:4) He that says I know Him, but doesn't keep His commandments, is a liar. There are people who run around saying they are Christians, they know God; but their lives speak louder than their lies. Glen Hoddle, profession + practice. Son of Sam, Mike Tyson, celebrities. Geri Halliwell.
5. Test of True Intimacy with God (2:6) He that says he abides in Him ought to live as He lived. Christlikeness in behaviour and attitude tells the tale.
6. Test of Enlightenment (2:9) He that says he is in the light but hates his brother, is in the darkness. If you are truly enlightened with the light of God then you cannot hate.
7. Test of Love for God (4:20) If a man says I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. You cannot be a lover of God and a hater of man. Same test for different point.

These contrasts and tests provide the theme for John's epistle. By these contrasts and tests we can know if there's reality to our religion.

· Is it real?
· Are we fooling ourselves?
· Are we playing games?
· Are we Christians in name only?
· Or are we genuine followers of Jesus?

And these contrasts and tests centre upon three areas of relationship - to God, to the World and to each other. The passage we read earlier deals with the first and most important area - our relationship to God.

The GRACE OF GOD is the engine room of salvation.
In these few verses the Apostle John is teaching us the mechanics, the step-by-step guide of how to walk in the grace of God, how to enter into and enjoy relationship with God, how to access the abundant life. To walk with God by GRACE is not rocket science - God has made it possible for everyone, from the worst sinner to the best sinner!! These few verses provide the shortest but most important manual on life you'll ever read.

Only by GRACE can we walk with God, not by any other means. And the key to GRACE is understanding sin and God's forgiveness of sin.

HERE IS THE ANSWER - TO WALK WITH GOD, TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSEFUL JOURNEY WITH GOD, TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE AND NEARNESS ON A DAILY BASIS - YOU NEED TO BE AWARE BOTH OF YOUR SIN AND OF THE FREE AND UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS THAT IS AVAILABLE IN JESUS

John warns us of two extreme positions to avoid - the one who says "I have not sinned" v10 (the legalistic approach) and the one who says "I have no sin" v 8 (the lawless approach).
Vital to avoid the pitfalls of both extremes - The Legalistic one ends up in bondage to law, while the Lawless one ends up in bondage to sin. The prodigal and his brother are the examples.

Legalistic Les - the one who says "I have not sinned"
Gets angry at the liberty of others, a critical spirit; dishes out condemnation. The legalist ends up in perfectionism, dry, bound, in bondage. Miserable himself and even more miserable when he sees the freedom of others. Self-righteous, holier than thou. Proud of the fact that he gets up earlier than everyone else, reads more, prays more. The dilemma for Legalistic Les is that gradually instead of becoming perfect he begins to realise his mistakes and slips into the lethal worthless worm syndrome - give up because I can't make it. Those who live by law die by law. The only answer is to acknowledge that you have sinned and by faith access God's forgiveness, walk in grace. The Prodigal's elder brother had always obeyed his father but failed to grasp the liberty and joy of what he had.

Lawless Larry - The one who says "there is no sin"
Independent life, prodigal, but came to senses, eyes opened, what I thought was wonderful is actually a pigsty. The independent spirit leads you astray. Starts off with reasons that quickly become excuses. No power to break free. Deluded, deceived. No repentance, no forgiveness. But the Bible says you will reap what you sow! Very dangerous approach. 1 Cor 8:9-13. Rom 14:20.

The Answer
So simple - whenever you're aware of sin, to confess and He is faithful and just to forgive. It's your faith in God's grace. Jesus purchased your forgiveness with His own blood on Calvary. David tried to hide his sin, but he couldn't sleep. Psalm 51 Psalm 32:1-5 When he confessed, it was tough, but he was restored.
Jesus, Advocate - Righteous One - He is the propitiation, the answer, the payment for our sins. Never lost a case, cannot lose a case. Will never turn away one who comes. Can't lose because He Himself is the penalty paid for our sins. So we are guilty, but the price is paid by Him. That's why if Jesus is your lawyer you cannot lose!

Three Results
1. We are in the light - abiding daily relationship. Fresh, vibrant. Fellowship with God. Hearing His voice. Spirit being fed. Peace guarding our heart and mind.
2. Fellowship with each other. Unity - attacked in church every time. Greatest hindrance to revival is absence of total forgiveness in local church. Even now God is moving and the first line of attack will be to get us out of fellowship with each other. Notice that if you're out of fellowship with each other it generally means you're out of fellowship with God. Because if you are in the light as He is in the light (ongoing) you will have fellowship.
3. Transformed lives - v9 cleansed, purified. Changed from glory to glory. Not continuing in sin. Layer upon layer, line upon line. Purge our conscience from dead works (Heb 9:13-14). Under the OT they continued week in and week out with the same old sin with no power to break it's hold. Like my experience in Catholic confessional. Same stuff every week. But confession in the light of grace, knowing you're accepted in Christ, brings power and enablement to break the bondage and set you free, developing your faith and trust in Christ and His finished work for you rather than in yourself.

God wants to set you free from the bondage of legalism and from the worthless worm syndrome. Don't deny that you have sin or have sinned, but receive His forgiveness and walk daily in the light of His acceptance of you and love for you. Face the reality of your failings, but live in the reality of His forviveness and acceptance. That way your life will be transformed.