That You May Know

I. How does knowing God determine how we handle sin?

I heard a story about a little boy who wanted to give God an offering but had nothing to give. He sat on the floor, watching people pass by and place their offerings in large wicker baskets. How he longed to give a little something to the Savior he so dearly loved. He walked to the front of the church, grabbed the rim of the basket and hoisted himself inside. When the deacons went to retrieve the boy, one scolded him, saying, ‘This is not a play area!’ Embarrassed and bewildered, the little boy responded, ‘I didn’t have anything to give the Lord, so I was giving him myself’.

Adapted from Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey by Mark E. Strong Copyright (c) 2022 by Mark E. Strong. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com

When you boil it all down, what do we really have to offer God?

Sin! That’s really about it! Everything else is a gift from God, except sin.

We offer sin, while God offers us free gift of grace which results in eternal life. We are reminded of last week, the promise of what we can be know about God’s salvation in verse 13. “Believing in the name of the Son of God, that you know you have eternal life.”

When we have come to faith in Jesus, everything changes!

But as Christians what does God want us to do since we now believe in him? Surely there must be more...

The question we must ask ourselves is...

[FCF] How does knowing God determine how we handle sin?

[Proposition] We handle sin by giving it all to God.

The Apostle John writes how the church handles the consequences of sin so that God’s people can continue to live according to their eternal life found in Jesus Christ.

If you have your bibles please turn with me to 1 John 5:14-21 on the things we know concerning sin and how the church responses to it.

1 John 5:14–21 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

[Prayer of illumination] Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

II. Believers handle sin by turning towards the throne of grace (1 John 5:14-17).

The secessionist commit the sin that leads to death by denying the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Therefore, their sins cannot be forgiven since they reject the atoning work of God's Son who provides eternal life to those who believe.

We turn towards God for intercession for other believers who are committing the sin that leads to death.

We are to pray for those who are evidently sinning during these occasions: (1) prideful (2) grumbler (3) apathetic.

Your boss and coworkers are overly critical of your performance. They forgot to encourage and support you like God would. (Pridefulness)

Your household members grumbling about their living condition. They miss out on thanking the Lord for our provision. (Complaining)

Your church family are unwilling to serve in the congregation. They are missing out on the joy of serving the Lord. (Apathetic)

We handle every sin we see, by sitting our knees and folding our hands toward God.

III. Believers handle sin by trusting Jesus in the devil's world (1 John 5:18-19).

In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciple, not the world. He protects those who have been given to him. and prays for God to keep them for evil. These are the spiritual benefits of having eternal life in the Son.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

We are not under the control of world, because Jesus protects, prays, and frees us from the devil’s chains. That’s why we can stop sinning.

We handle sin by continuing to trust Jesus even in a sinful world.

IV. Believers handle sin by taking in the truth which sets them free (1 John 5:20-21).

God sent you the greatest gift - truth and life.

It's hard to confirm John meaning of idols, but one can conclude that anything that opposes the truth of God's Son is an idol. All believers must resist the urge to follow the secessionist's idols that lead them away from the fellowship of God.

We have a new mind and heart to chase after the things of God.

V. We handle sin by giving it all to God.

We pray for others, hide our life in the Son, and live by his truth that sets us free.

Amen.