LIVE AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST Christian discipleship means living in obedience to Christ

Intro: In the Gospels Jesus is identified as a rabbi, (teacher) and He called people to follow His example of living and ministry. John the Apostle said anyone claiming to be a disciple of Jesus, but not following His example of truth and love, is not His disciple, and if they say they are, they are lying.

If we are, in fact, Jesus disciples, we will obey His commands to walk in truth and love with one another.

OBEY CHRIST’S COMMANDS

1 John 2:3–11 (NKJV)

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 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. 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. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 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 proof that we know Jesus is that we keep (obey) His commandments.

love God

love your neighbor as yourself

John also writes, that Jesus gave a new commandment:

John 13:34–35 NKJV

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

A distinguishing mark of being a follower of Christ is a deep, sincere love for brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle John reminds us of this fact elsewhere: “He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister” (1 John 4:21).

WALKING IN THE TRUTH

3 John 1–8 (NKJV)

The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church.

If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

In contrast to those that were being misled by false teachers, John was overjoyed to hear that his friend and brother nin Christ was walking in the truth of the Gospel.

KNOW AND LOVE THE FATHER

1 John 2:12–17 (NKJV)

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Here John speaks to the whole body of Christ. First we can see John envisioning the church body, Papa’s, Nana’s, parents and children.

But, he was also speaking to the nature of the believers.

new believers - little children who were forgiven and knew God the Father

young men - more mature who were strong in the Word and living victorious lives

the fathers - were leaders of the church, had been in the faith a long time and were examples to their fellow believers

John describes a progression of faith of being forgiven, to living a victorious life, to being examples and spiritual fathers to younger believers.

LOVE GOD AND DO HIS WILL

1 John 2:15–17 NKJV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Love Not the World - The world of which John speaks is the unbelieving, sinful world, the spiritual realm that opposes God.

The world system

the lust of the flesh

the lust of the eyes

pride of life

These are the things the world offer to gratify sinful desires in disobedience to God.

Lust as used in the bible usually refers to human desires corrupted by sin that lead us away from God.

the lust of the flesh - refers to sinful desires primarily concerned with obtaining physical pleasure

the lust of the eyes - getting things we see , sinful desires in violation of God’s will

pride of life - sinful desires rooted in attitudes such as pride, arrogance, prejudice, and rebellion against God.

GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION

Beware of Deception

1 John 2:18–29 (NKJV)

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

John identifies these”antichrist” as being people who have defected from faith in Christ, deny that Jesus is the Messiah and deny God the Father and the Son.

The last time, last days, end of the age the span of time between the coming of the Holy Spirit and the return of the Lord.

Until Christ comes again, all believers must be on guard against deceivers, who are in fact, antichrist, because they are enemies of Christ.

Defense - the anointing, discernment

TRUTH REVEALED IN DOING GOOD

3 John 9–11 NKJV

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Diotrephes was a self-seeking troublemaker in an unnamed local church in the first century. We know nothing of his background, other than he was probably a Gentile (his name means “nurtured by Jupiter”).

Diotrephes was a leader, or at least an influential member, in the local church where Gaius was a member. Diotrephes was clearly abusing his position of authority. For some reason he was jealous of the apostles and refused to allow them in his church. Instead of following the command for a pastor to be hospitable and “not quarrelsome” (2 Timothy 3:2–3), Diotrephes was inhospitable and pugnacious. Instead of seeking to be the servant of all (Mark 9:35), Diotrephes loved to be in charge.

John’s exhortation to his fellow believers was not to follow the evil example of Diotrephes:

3 John 11 NKJV

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Conclusion: The most important Biblical teachings for Christians are those about Jesus Christ:

His virgin birth

incarnation as Son of God and Messiah

authoritative teaching

suffering and death for our sins

resurrection ascension and coming again

People that deny Christ are not Christians.