Walking in the Light

I. Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to 1 Jn. Ch. 1....

Pitch Kayak Float & Signup!

Open in Prayer....

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II. Introduction

Illustration: INTERESTING PHENOMENON…

SOME PEOPLE FIX THINGS NO MATTER HOW BEAT UP…PUTTING MORE WORK INTO IT THAN ITS VALUE…

SOME PEOPLE THROW STUFF AWAY IMMEDIATELY—WON’T PUT ANY WORK INTO IT...

Conclusion: SOME PEOPLE SEE VALUE—OTHERS SEE JUNK...

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Transition: WE CAN APPLY THESE IDEAS to HUMAN CONDITION...

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SOME PEOPLE SEE HUMAN BEINGS as IRREPARABLY WICKED

OTHERS SEE PEOPLE as FUNDAMENTALLY GOOD

DISNEY MOVIES: EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE, INSIDE OUT 2

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Question: ARE HUMANS FUNDAMENTALLY GOOD, or IRREPARABLY WICKED?

OR PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE??

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Transition: TODAY’S PASSAGE:

JOHN SHOWS US REALITY of HUMAN SIN

HOPE of FORGIVENESS & CLEANSING

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III. Passage Reading: 1 John 1:5–2:2

1 John 1:5–2:2 (ESV)

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

7 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.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 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.

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Declaration: This is God’s Word for us this morning...

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IV. Context Recap

Last Wk: BEGAN NEW STUDY

Background: JOHN WROTE THIS LETTER—COMBAT FALSE TEACHING

JOHN OFFERS TRUTH

RELIABILITY of EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY

JOHN KNEW JESUS

SAW HIM

HEARD HIM

SPENT TIME W/ HIM…3.5 YRS!!

Purpose: KEEP BELIEVERS in ASIA MINOR FAITHFUL to TRUE GOSPEL

BYPRODUCT:

FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH & GOD

JOY COMPLETE

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TWO PRIMARY THEMES:

RIGHT BELIEF

RIGHT PRACTICE

Last Week’s Theme: Fellowship hinges on faithfulness to the truth.

This Week’s Focus: Transitioning to RIGHT LIVING

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Transition: FIRST WE’RE GOING to SEE BEDROCK IDEA —

— FOUNDATION UPON WHICH PASSAGE WILL REST TODAY

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 5...

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V. Passage Exposition

A. Thought 1: The Message—God is Light (1:5)

1 John 1:5 (ESV)

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Core Truth: GOD is LIGHT—

Background: THIS = MESSAGE HEARD from JESUS HIMSELF...

**DISCLAIMER: LIGHT ISN’T GOD… NOT PANTHEISM**

LIGHT = METAPHOR for PURITY/HOLINESS

DARKNESS = METAPHOR for EVIL

Focus: JOHN’S ARGUMENT TODAY = ROOTED in PERFECTION of GOD.

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GOD = LIGHT— & in HIM— NO DARKNESS AT ALL...

Exhort: GOD HAS NEVER SINNED

ETERNAL

IMMUTABLE

UNCHANGING GOD...

Connection: HOW ABOUT US… WE CAN’T HAVE a PERFECT YEAR...

LET ALONE:

MONTH

WEEK

DAY

GOD is ETERNAL — PRECEDING the BEGINNING!!

& HE HAS a PERFECT STREAK!!

THIS = GOD WE SERVE...

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Transition: GOD’S PURITY MEANS SOMETHING FOR US…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 6...

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B. Thought 2: Hypothetical Projections Concerning Sin (1:6–10)

1 John 1:6 (ESV)

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Background: JOHN USES SERIES of CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS...

GK: 3RD CLASS CONDITIONAL— “HYPOTHETICAL PROJECTION”

=> => JOHN’S SAYING… “IMAGINE THIS...” <= <=

“IMAGINE......YOU CLAIM to HAVE FELLOWSHIP W/ PERFECT GOD—WHILE WALKING in DARKNESS…WILD IDEA…HUH??”

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IF GOD is LIGHT— AND YOU’RE in DARKNESS… THAT DOESN’T ADD UP

LIVING in SIN

WHILE CLAIMING FELLOWSHIP W/ HOLY GOD

IS BACKWARDS… IT DOESN’T WORK

Exhort: DARKNESS & LIGHT = MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE

Illustration: TURN on LIGHTS in DARK ROOM— DARKNESS = GONE...

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Challenge: IF YOU CLAIM FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD & WALK in DARKNESS— YOUR RELIGION is EMPTY.

YOU’RE SELF-DECEIVED.

YOU LIE.

YOU DON’T PRACTICE the TRUTH.

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JESUS TRANSFORMED LIVES, Examples:

FISHERMEN LEFT THEIR NETS

TAX-COLLECTORS LEFT THEIR BOOTHS

ZACCHAEUS RESTORED 4-FOLD

GADARENE DEMONIAC BECAME a WITNESS

SAUL STOPPED TEARING DOWN CHURCHES & BUILT THEM UP...

Challenge: WHAT ABOUT YOU…FRIEND?

IF HE’S TAKEN US OUT of DOMAIN of DARKNESS— (COL. 1:13)

— SURELY OUR MANNER of LIFE SHOULDN’T BE CHARACTERIZED BY DARKNESS!!

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**IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER**

WE DON’T CLEAN UP to COME to CHRIST...

YOU CAN COME as YOU ARE…BUT YOU DON’T STAY THAT WAY.

Bible Example: WOMAN CAUGHT in ACT of ADULTERY

JESUS DIDN’T CAST STONES

The Part People Miss: AFTERWARDS JESUS SAID: “GO & SIN NO MORE”

EVERYONE LOVES the PART WHERE STONES ARE PUT DOWN

NO ONE QUOTES the NEXT PART

SAME JESUS.

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Exhort: JESUS = GOD-INCARNATE

AUTHORED the LAW

WAS THERE @ NOAH’S FLOOD

HELPED LIGHT the FIRE in SODOM & GOMORRAH

WISHY-WASHY JESUS DOESN’T EXIST.

TRUE FRIEND of SINNERS CALLS THEM OUT of THEIR SIN...

Illustration: SIN = LIKE a MIRY PIT— JESUS PULLS PEOPLE OUT of —DOESN’T CELEBRATE THEIR PIT!

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CHURCH IS CALLED to RECEIVE the SINNER....

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

BUT WE NEVER AFFIRM SIN

YOU CAN RECEIVE the SINNER WITHOUT CELEBRATING THEIR SIN....

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Transition:

& SO BELIEVER OUGHT NOT to WALK in DARKNESS…BUT LIGHT.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 7....

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1 John 1:7 (ESV)

7 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.

WALKING in DARKNESS — LIE & NO TRUTH

WALKING in LIGHT:

FELLOWSHIP W/ EACH OTHER (REF. LAST WK)

BLOOD of CHRIST CLEANSES US

**DISCLAIMER** NOT SALVATION BY WORKS

Quote: RAY VAN NESTE, “Rather, walking in the light shows that we are among those who have been cleansed.”

WALKING in the LIGHT = PROOF in PUDDING,, SOMEONE HAS BEEN REDEEMED/BORN-AGAIN

WE’LL SEE THIS LATER ((ESP. CH. 3!!))

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Transition: BUT THERE’S an IMPORTANT QUALIFIER:

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 8...

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1 John 1:8 (ESV)

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

“IF” JOHN = STILL SAYING,, “IMAGINE THIS...”

IMAGINE SOMEONE SAYS— THEY HAVE NO SIN!

THEY’RE SELF-DECEIVED—TRUTH NOT in THEM!

Essential Note: THIS = PRESENT TENSE...

IF WE SAY WE HAVE NO SIN (PRESENT)...

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I HAVE SIN.

YOU HAVE SIN.

THEY HAVE SIN.

ALL HAVE SIN.

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CHURCH = A COMPANY of SINNER-SAINTS

SINFUL BY NATURE—BUT CALLED SAINTS

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Exhort: LET US NEVER BE PROUD....

ANY GOODNESS in ME = RESULT of HIS GRACE

APART from HIM,,, I’M WRETCHED...

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P. Conclusion: YES...BELIEVER OUGHT NOT WALK in DARKNESS...

BUT LET’S NOT BE DECEIVED—WE’RE IMPERFECT

ONLY GOD is PERFECT.

THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY’RE WITHOUT SIN = DECEIVED...

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Transition: RATHER THAN DENYING EXISTENCE of SIN...

WHAT SHOULD WE DO??

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 9...

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1 John 1:9 (ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

BELIEVER DENYING SIN = SELF DECEIVED

“BUT IMAGINE THIS...”

IMAGINE: BELIEVER CONFESSING SIN.... THEY’RE FORGIVEN & CLEANSED...

HE = FAITHFUL! JUST!

PRICE = PAID @ CALVARY!

WE’RE FORGIVEN BY GRACE!!

NOT JUST FORGIVEN…BUT CLEANSED!

Exhort: DON’T HAVE to FEEL DIRTY ANYMORE!!

STAIN of SIN = WASHED AWAY!

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Transition: JOHN HAS ONE MORE HYPOTHETICAL CONCERNING SIN FOR US...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 10....

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1 John 1:10 (ESV)

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

FINAL HYPOTHETICAL:

“IMAGINE THIS”… SOMEONE DENIES SIN (Past Tense)

Conclusion: THAT PERSON CALLS GOD a LIAR!

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GOD’S WORD SHOWS US ALL HAVE SINNED...

Background: CONSIDER O.T. SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM & DAY of ATONEMENT!!

DENYING PERSONAL SIN & CULPABILITY MAKES GOD a LIAR!

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Background: SOME FALSE TEACHERS PROBABLY CLAIMED PERSONAL PERFECTION— THEY’D “ARRIVED”

Takeaway: JOHN MAKES CLEAR: BELIEVERS HAVE BOTH PAST & PRESENT SINS…

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Transition: BUT LET’S BE CLEAR… JOHN ISN’T ENDORSING SIN

LOOK W/ ME @ 1 JN. CH. 2:1-2

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C. Thought 3: John’s Purpose/Christ Our Advocate (2:1–2)

1 John 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 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.

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

TODAY’S PASSAGE = SO HELPFUL I.M.O.

John’s Purpose: SO THAT THEY WOULDN’T SIN.

KNOWLEDGE of SIN MUST NOT JUSTIFY SIN.

Romans 6:1–2 (ESV)

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

PARADOX of CHRISTIAN LIVING...

THERE WILL BE SIN (PAST/PRESENT)

BUT WE SHOULDN’T SIN

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GOD’S GRACE & KINDNESS....AREN’T MEANT to LEAD US to PRESUMPTUOUS LIVING...

Exhort: GOD’S KINDNESS—LEADS US to REPENT!!

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ONE FINAL HYPOTHETICAL

“IF” ANYONE SINS...

....WE HAVE an ADVOCATE!! JESUS CHRIST.

Background:

ONE WHO APPEARS on ANOTHER’ BEHALF

LEGAL ADVISOR/ADVOCATE

LIKE a LAWYER—PLEADING YOUR CASE.

Connection: LAWYER = BAD RAP

Example: SUING MCDONALDS BECAUSE YOUR HOT CHOCOLATE WAS HOT...

SOME PEOPLE: LAWYERS = PROFESSIONAL LIARS.

CONSIDER the IDEA of “PLEADING YOUR CASE”

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JESUS PLEADS OUR CASE BASED UPON HIS PERFECT TRACK RECORD!!— THE RIGHTEOUS ONE!!

Gospel Connection:

HE is the RIGHTEOUS ONE… ONLY SINLESS ONE

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

IN GREAT DIVINE EXCHANGE—WE RECEIVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS & HE TOOK OUR PENALTY!!

=> DEATH = WAGES of SIN… JESUS DIDN’T DESERVE

HE PAID OUR DEBTS...

HIS BLOOD is SUFFICIENT for ALL SINS of ALL PEOPLE for ALL TIME...

Invitation: YOU DON’T HAVE HOPE/ASSURANCE—PUT YOUR TRUST in CHRIST TODAY—HE DIED FOR YOU...

Reference: ANSWERING QUESTION from INTRODUCTION??

HUMAN BEINGS AREN’T INHERENTLY GOOD—INHERENTLY SINFUL...

BUT NOT BROKEN BEYOND DIVINE REPAIR—FOR CHRIST HAS MADE a WAY FOR US to BE CALLED RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD...

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(V.2:2b) NOT ONLY OUR ADVOCATE—BUT OUR PROPITIATION

WRATH-BEARING SACRIFICE

Connection: EVER MESS UP— “DAD’S GOING to KILL ME”???

TAKES THIS to: “I MESSED UP… I BETTER GO TELL MY DAD...”

&& NOW GOD’S KINDNESS DRAWS US to REPENTANCE

=> OUTSIDE of CHRIST— WE’RE CHILDREN of WRATH (EPH. CH.2:3)...

=> => BUT WE’RE MADE CHILDREN of GOD in CHRIST JESUS...

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Transition: ALL in ALL—WHAT’S JOHN SAYING THIS MORNING?

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VI. Application: The Believer’s Relationship with Sin

Passage Idea: Christians are never to deny or justify their sin,

but rather to confess it and find forgiveness and cleansing.

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God’s Concern: PASSAGE TODAY SHOWS US—GOD CARES HOW WE LIVE AS BELIEVERS...

THOSE WALKING in CONTINUAL DARKNESS: REPENT, YOU’RE LIVING a LIE—SELF-DECEIVED.

YOU CAN’T WALK in DARKNESS & CLAIM to HAVE FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD WHO is LIGHT.

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THOSE WHO MESSED UP BIG-TIME…NOT WALLOWING in SIN, BUT FAILED GOD in SOMETHING...

YOU CAN FIND FORGIVENESS & CLEANSING,, NO MATTER HOW WRETCHED YOU FIND YOURSELF

YOU HAVE an ADVOCATE in JESUS CHRIST! (NO CONDEMNATION—ROM. 8:1)

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FOR ALL of US....

CHALLENGE: HOW OFTEN DO YOU ACTUALLY CONFESS YOUR SINS?

WE PROBABLY ALL ACKNOWLEDGE: WE SIN...

BUT DO WE ACTUALLY CONFESS SPECIFIC SINS WHEN WE FALTER??

VII. Conclusion

PRACTICE of CONFESSION REMINDS US OUR SIN is SIN...

REMINDS US of the PRICE JESUS PAID

CHALLENGES US NOT to USE GOD’S GRACE as LICENSE to SIN—BUT TO TAKE SIN SERIOUSLY…

BRINGING SINS to LIGHT HELPS US to OVERCOME

& MOST of ALL—

CONFESSION ASSURES US of CLEANSING & FORGIVENESS FOUND in CHRIST…

& IN THAT WE CAN HOPE…AMEN?

VIII. Closing Prayer