Known Part 1

Known Part 1

Intro:

What is real?

How do I know I have really been saved?

In this two-week series, we are going to look at the book of 1 John, and see what God says about knowing that we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Story 1

Show Matrix movie clip “what is real?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVLexf_dyCM

Neo is being told that the world as he knows it is a facade, a built up fake image. He realizes that everything he thought was real in his life is fake.

Many Christian lives are like this too.

People have built up an image of what they think their life is and what their faith is, but it’s fake.

They're relying on their fake “world” to justify themselves before God.

This is wrong & dangerous.

Ex: Hold up a ball or other object. Ask, how do you know this ball is real? Because you can see it. You can touch it. It works. You can hear it bounce.

Faith in Christ is like this. It needs to be visible, touchable, workable, and heard.

These things can represent a change in someone’s heart.

Scripture

1 John 5:13 (ESV) “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Application 1

We want to be KNOWN by God, so how do we know if we are?

Known people walk in the light.

1 John 1:6-7 (ESV) “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

People will say they are Christians but choose to walk in darkness/wickedness – and this ultimately means they are not Christian.

Ex: “if it looks like a duck & talks like a duck then it must be a duck” - if it looks like a Christian but talks like the world then it’s not a Christian (& vice versa).

B. The “light” here means both intellectual and moral truth.

If we walk this way, then the blood of Christ has cleansed us from ALL sin.

The blood shed by Christ is sufficient enough to cover ALL sin for ALL people.

Do you affirm the truths of Scripture & desire to obey them?

2. Known people confess their sin.

1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Confess doesn’t mean to recite every wrong that we have ever done.

It means to agree with God about our sin.

It means true believers hate their sin.

They don’t love it / enjoy it.

If you confess your sins, He is faithful.

Be honest about your condition & He’ll remain with you.

Ex: Ever get in trouble & lie about it only to find out that if you’d told the truth you would've been punished less? Be honest. Honesty is a sign of a repentant heart.

Acknowledge you are sinful, and yet know you are forgiven.

1 John 2:1 (ESV) “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

this verse says we have an advocate (fighter/crusader) that steps in for us.

3. Known people keep God’s commandments.

1 John 2:3-4 (ESV) “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him”

Do you see a pattern here? People who say, “I know Him” but do not live it out are liars & God’s truth is not in them.

Ex: If I say I know Lebron James but we go to a game & get close to him & I say, “Hey Lebron! What’s up bro?” and he doesn't know me or even acknowledge me, then you would know I am a liar.

My fear is that there are many people in churches & youth ministries today who say, “I know Jesus” & when Jesus sees them after their death, He won’t know or acknowledge them.

Don’t be that person.

1 John 5:2-3 (ESV) “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

The Scripture here is talking about a watchful, observant obedience.

Believers should desire to obey the truth which God deems important.

This involves a proactive approach to obedience.

Christians study Scripture in order to understand & obey it.

Obedience to God’s commands looks like this: a surrendered heart, a servant to all people, and the person who desires to know Jesus better each day.

To obey Scripture you have to know Scripture, which means you have to read Scripture.

Ex: What does your Bible look like? Is it worn in?

What does your life look like? Is it worn in from relying on God’s Word and the gospel?

4. Known people love God’s people.

1 John 2:9-11 (ESV) “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.”

You can’t claim to love Jesus but not love His people.

Our love needs to be shared with others.

If you’re struggling with where you are with God, then examine your life and how you treat others.

“love God…” & “love your neighbor…”

1 John 3:10, 14-15 (ESV) “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother… We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

3:10 In this verse we find that the children of the devil are those who don’t practice righteousness & don’t love their neighbor.

Some of the most hateful people in the world claim to be Christians, but their lives doesn't show their faith.

3:14 says we KNOW that we have passed out of death into life, because we love God’s people.

Ex: Give tangible ways students can serve others in our own city, school, & in the rest of the world.

Questions

Do you want to know if you’re KNOWN by God then ask yourself questions like these:

Do I walk in the light or the darkness?

Do I confess my sin to God & acknowledge where I need His grace?

Do I study & know Scripture so that I may obey it daily?

Do I love God’s people & desire to be around them?