2024 is an election year

political campaigns are in full swing

just check your mailbox

or your text messages

claims of what he/she will do are bold

but will a politician do what he/she says?

politicians know the power of speech

tend to exaggerate truths

make grand promises

but the American people are not dumb

Americans have come to lump most politicians into a group of people they cannot trust

disclaimer: we need real Christians in politics and have some good ones

but as a whole, our society doesn’t put “politician” and “honest” in the same sentence often

upcoming debates

fact checkers will be furiously working to see if the candidates boasts are supported with truth

just because someone claims something is true…doesn’t make it true

this mentality has crept into the Christian world too

especially in America

especially in the Bible belt

we all know people who say they are Christians but something doesn’t seem right

doesn’t pass sniff test

they say one thing, but their life contradicts their claims

is saying you are a Christian all there is to being one???

does God in His Word have anything to say about this?

Talk Is Cheap (1 John 1:5-2:2)

secessionists make bold claims that are contrary to the truth

just because the secessionists said it to be true

John (under inspiration of HS) says they were not true

secessionists said they were Christians

God said they were not

this morning I am not asking you to evaluate

the Christians out there

or even the Christians in here

but the boasts of your mouth

negatively

if following Jesus were a crime,

is there enough evidence to convict you?

positively

if following Jesus is all that really matters in eternity,

is your life different since you trusted Jesus?

what might the Lord be doing in your heart today?

since God is light

1:5 pew Bible # 1210

as eyewitness of Word of Life (JESUS)

message is from Jesus

crystal clear

God is light

mystical—light (physical light???) NO

character of God (moral sense—good/perfect)

spiritual perfection

moral excellence

utter transcendence

no darkness at all

Mark Denby fishing, “none, none”

not none darkness…no darkness at all

GOSPEL hinge for sermon

if God is light, then those who truly know God will walk in light

not just claim with their lips

but lives will be evidence

HUGE DISCLAIMER

no way to know God without knowing Jesus

as we will see,

Jesus is the only way of salvation

sins to be forgiven

restoration of relationship with holy, holy, holy God

the only hope we have

is in what Jesus accomplished on the cross

without faith in Jesus,

it is impossible to walk in the light

all you can do is talk a good game

because the transforming power to walk in the light

comes as a result of following Jesus

indwelling of Holy Spirit

we don’t walk in the light because we try/will/desire to

we walk in the light because the HS empowers us to

so w/o following Jesus

impossible to have relationship with God the Father

or walk in the light

do you know Jesus?

are you following Him?

follower of Jesus, are you walking in the light?

1:6-7

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness (1:6)

words have to be tested

especially nowadays

politicians

social media

Abraham Lincoln quote, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

because someone says it, does it make it true?

secessionists said they knew God

but their lives contradicted their claims

do you claim to know God?

do you say you are a Christian?

if you are walking in darkness and continue,

then you do not know God and are not a Christian

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light (1:7)

clear contrast between walking in darkness and walking in light

unfortunately John doesn’t define here

John 3:19-21

walking in light

open to things of God in His Word

want to follow Christ

walking in darkness

closed to the things of God

refusal to follow Christ

walking in sin

sounds pretty opposite

either on the north pole or the south pole

either walking in light or walking in darkness

consequences are clear

former slide

walking in darkness

we lie and do not practice the truth (1:6)

God says you are a liar

walking in light

not easy but totally worth it

trying to find a movie or video game w/o filth of moral darkness

we have fellowship with one another (1:7)

interesting

not fellowship with God

but fellowship with one another

there is no real fellowship with God which is not expressed in fellowship with other believers

no lone rangers

no matter how messed up you think the church is

real fellowship with God is evidenced by real fellowship with other believers (most specifically in a local church)

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin

blood Jesus = violent death for your sins

cleanses is more than forgive

God-sized eraser to erase the stain of sin

if the gospel has not transformed your life

then all you have is empty words

you do not have the divine power of the Spirit to walk in the light

is God drawing you to Himself???

follower of Jesus, are you confessing sin?

1:8-9

If we say we have no sin

secessionists claim was that

they were not guilty of committing sin since came to know God

not a popular stance today

but I will tell you one that is

east Texans are good enough to go to heaven

essentially saying there is no need for Jesus

in essence saying your sin is not a big deal

result

we deceive ourselves

and the truth is not in us

If we confess our sins

true Christians recognize their sin in an ongoing way through confession

Christians are not sinless

but acknowledge their sin through confession

ὁμολογέω

ὁμο = same

λογέω = word

when you confess your sin

you are not telling anything God doesn’t already know

we are agreeing with God about our sin

one sign of spiritual maturity

distance between the sin and the confession is shorter and shorter

communion (hopefully not more than a week @ FCC)

does the HS have to wrangle with you before you will confess?

result

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

to forgive us our sins

no longer holds our sin against us

cancels our debt

tears up your mounting credit card bill

to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

removes defilement of sin

the dirty stain of sin is made bright white

faithful and just

God is faithful to His promise to forgive those who confess their sins

problem is just

what judge is just to let guilty criminals go free?

Romans 3:21-26

confessing sin shows we embrace the price Jesus paid for our sin

initial confession

to begin relationship with God through Christ

ongoing confession

to maintain fellowship with God

forgiveness and cleansing is not automatic

conditional upon confession

not general confession but particular confession

not forgive me of my sins

but forgive me when I cut my wife with my words

when was the last time you confessed sin?

blank slide

1:10-2:2

If we say we have not sinned (1:10)

similar claim but with completed state

result

we make him a liar

before we deceives ourselves

and his word is not in us

definitely undercuts fellowship with God

THEN not what we expected

quick note about chapters…and verses

most commentaries put 2:1-2 with 1:5-10

break in pattern

not John’s normal counter to secessionists

but pastoral plea

My little children

3rd person (we) —> 1st person (I)

But if anyone does sin (2:1)

acts of sin vs. continuous sinful habit

1 lie (slip) vs. 1,000 lies (pattern)

liar?

2 ditches with sin

too lenient

since Jesus’ blood is so powerful

it’s no big deal if I sin a little more

too harsh

acting like Jesus died for your sin

but you have to keep your life free from sin

follower of Jesus, you have an Advocate

we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (2:1)

surprising and encouraging

παράκλητος

HS everywhere else

Jesus here

παράκλητος = advocate who speaks on behalf of accused

here Jesus speaks on our behalf to the Father

when. we. sin.

He is the propitiation for our sins (2:2)

propitiation = atoning sacrifice

παράκλητος = advocate in court

does not plead that we are innocent

but points to the finished work on the cross

ἱλασμός = sacrificing priest in temple

Hoover Dam but bigger

wrath coming towards us (rightly so)

Jesus drank the full wrath of God on the cross

be very clear WHO offered a propitiation for our sins

1 John 4:10

and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (2:2)

universalists???

BUT

1 John 5:11-13

death sufficient for whole world (powerful blood)

only effective for those who trust

Danny Akin, “Universal in provision is not to be equated with universal in application.”

Talk Is Cheap

claiming you are a Christian doesn’t make you one

this morning I am not asking you to evaluate

the Christians out there

or even the Christians in here

but the boasts of your mouth

negatively

if following Jesus were a crime,

is there enough evidence to convict you?

positively

if following Jesus is all that really matters in eternity,

is your life different since you trusted Jesus?

what might the Lord be doing in your heart today?