Untitled Sermon (197)

The Christian Walk - the believers course of action, behavior, attitude and manner of thought. Through out the Scriptures we are reminded of principles that serve as a controlling factor in our walk.

Walk with God (Noah and Enoch) - they maintained a course of action conformed to God’s will and acceptable in His sight.

Israel is repeatedly commanded to “walk in His ways” which is a reference to obedience.

Walk in Christ – Colossians 2:6 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,”

Walk in the Light - 1 John 1:5-7 “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. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Walk in the Spirit - Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Walk Circumspectly - Ephesians 5:15 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,”

Walk Worthy - Ephesians 4:1 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,”

Walk by Faith - 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walk Humbly - Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Walk Properly - Romans 13:13 “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.”

Walk in Love - Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Walk in the Truth - 2 John 4 “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.”

If it all seems like too much just remember Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

What is Truth?

Do you remember what Pilate said to Jesus? John 18:33-38 “Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.””

When something is true we mean that it is in accordance with fact or reality.

Biblically, truth is anything God has revealed concerning Himself or His creation.

So to walk in the truth is to conform your actions, behavior, attitudes and thoughts to what God has revealed about Himself and His creation. This is why God has given us a guide book in His Word. We are again reminded of Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” If you want to walk in the truth turn on your lamp!

Love One Another

The Old Commandment Made New

Even John recognizes that he is not saying something new here.

But does that mean that we don’t need to hear it again?

A few reminders about love.

Love is shown not felt

Love is a choice

Love is commanded

Love is obedience

The Reality of Love

John states clearly that love is “walking according to His commandments”

There is a reciprocal relationship between love and obedience. - Next Slide

This is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands

His command is that we walk in love.

Love is primarily expressed in obedience to God.

John 14:15 ““If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

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

Husbands, if you want to love your wives to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

Wives, if you want to love your husbands to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

Parents, if you want to love your children to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

Aunts and Uncles, if you want to love your nieces and nephews to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

If you want to love your neighbor to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

If you want to love your Church family to the best of your ability live in obedience to God.

Be on Guard - “watch yourselves”

We live in a world of lies and deception and those who are primarily motivated by the great deceiver are constantly trying to invade the church and influence the lives of genuine believers.

How do we keep them out and weed them out?

A moment of honesty. I am really excited about what God is doing in this church. My flesh wants me to fear that my absence will interrupt out progress. However, what I know to be true is that our progress has nothing to do with me but everything to do with God. The only thing that can really interrupt our blessing is if we let sin into the camp. v. 8

John has warned us of this before, 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

John gives us a litmus test to begin the process.

Do they deny the humanity of Christ?

Do they deny the teachings of Christ?

Do they claim to know truths about Christ that go beyond what the Scriptures actually say? - like claiming to know when He is coming back?

If they do they are of a type, a anti-christ.

John also gives us a practical application

Don’t let them into your house

Don’t greet them

This may be an indication that the Elect Lady housed a church in her home.

By contrast, whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. This is a repetition of 1 John 2:22–23. In both passages ‘the Christ’ and ‘the Son’ are equivalent expressions. No-one can have the Father without acknowledging the Son.