Walking His Walk

Welcome & Opening Prayer 🙏

TURN: 1 JN. CH. 2

PITCH KAYAK FLOAT

OPEN in PRAYER

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I. Introduction: Our Role Models and the Ultimate Example 🌟

Intro: WE’VE ALL PROBABLY HAD ROLE MODELS in OUR LIVES…WHETHER WE REALIZE it or NOT...

FAMILY MEMBER

COACH (SPECIAL INTEREST)

TEACHER (HELPED YOU)

CHILDREN OFTEN LOOK to CERTAIN PROFESSIONS

Boys:

FIREFIGHTER

POLICE-OFFICER

COWBOY

Girls:

DR

VET

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Connection: AS ADULT—STILL JOKED ABOUT “BEING LIKE SO & SO WHEN I GROW UP”

SEMINARY PROFS

TROY K./DIAL-UP, FITNESS

WE LOOK UP to PEOPLE—AT LEAST in SOME ASPECTS

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Focus: BUT IF YOU’RE a FOLLOWER of JESUS CHRIST—

— WE CAN’T LOSE SIGHT THAT HE’S our ROLE MODEL

HE SHOWS US WHAT BEING TRULY HUMAN IS LIKE

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Transition: JOHN —MAKES THIS CLEAR in TODAY’S PASSAGE...

& IT’S NOT ONLY a SUGGESTION—BUT IT’S ESSENTIAL...

LET’S DIVE IN— CH. 2.... V.3-6

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II. Passage Reading: 1 John 2:3-6 📖

1 John 2:3–6 (ESV)

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

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

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III. Context Recap: Walking in the Light ✨

1 John ADDRESSING “FALSE TEACHING” (2 THEMES)

RIGHT BELIEF

RIGHT LIVING

Background: JOHN = CREDIBLE,, EYEWITNESS of JESUS

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Last Week:

=> MESSAGE HEARD— GOD is LIGHT — NO DARKNESS in HIM

Meaning: GOD = PERFECTLY PURE—UTTERLY SINLESS—PERFECT.

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Challenge: IF GOD = LIGHT & PURE… HOW COULD YOU CLAIM to HAVE FELLOWSHIP,,

WHILE WALKING in DARKNESS???

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Focus: GOD CARES ABOUT the LIVES WE LEAD.

=> CHRIST MAKES a DIFFERENCE in OUR LIVES

=> **Disclaimer** WON’T BE PERFECT— CHRIST = ATONING SACRIFICE

Last Wk. Idea: CHRISTIANS = NOT to DENY, or JUSTIFY SIN...

RATHER...CONFESS,, FIND FORGIVENESS & CLEANSING...

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Transition: With THIS FOUNDATION...

JOHN CONTINUES THEME of “RIGHT LIVING”

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 3

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IV. Passage Exposition: 1 John 2:3-6

1. The Proof of Knowing Him (v. 3) ✅

1 John 2:3 (ESV)

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

Background: ENDED LAST WK. —> CHRIST = ATONING SACRIFICE/PROPITIATION for ALL SINS…ALL PEOPLE…ALL TIME.

GIFT MUST BE RECEIVED

GOD’S PEOPLE = DISTINGUISHED—IN COVENANT W/ HIM

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Background: “KNOWING GOD” = COVENANT LANGUAGE...

OT Hope of N.Covenant:

Jeremiah 31:34 (ESV)

34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

KNOWING GOD,, COVENANT = FORGIVEN

Exhort: THIS ANCIENT HOPE = PRESENT REALITY for THOSE in CHRIST!

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Transition: PERHAPS YOU’RE HERE THIS MORNING…WITHOUT THIS HOPE.

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Gospel Presentation

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

WHILE STILL SINNERS—CHRIST DIED for US

ALL SINS—WASHED AWAY

RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD

HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE

Problem: SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD…

NO RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD WHEN in REBELLION AGAINST HIM..

Focus: HE OFFERS INVITATION for FORGIVENESS.... GIVEN as a GIFT of GRACE!

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Text Today: OFFERS TESTS of KNOWING CHRIST—BY HOW WE LIVE.

=> OBEDIENCE COMES AFTER SALVATION <=

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Exhort: YOU DON’T CLEAN UP to COME to CHRIST—

— YOU COME as YOU ARE—BROKEN, UNCLEAN, SINFUL

Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE TODAY—WITHOUT a RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD THROUGH CHRIST

— TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE.

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Transition: IF YOU’RE HERE & BELIEVE YOU’RE in COVENANT-RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD....

....JOHN OFFERS a TEST

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(V3b), PROOF of KNOWING HIM??” … TEST = KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Key Point: JESUS SUMMARIZED LAW & HIS TEACHING:

LOVE GOD—HEART, MIND, SOUL,

LOVE NEIGHBOR— AS SELF.

Focus: 600+ COMMANDMENTS SUMMED UP W/ TWO.

ONE DISTINGUISHER: LOVING OTHERS (JN. 13:35)

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JESUS CARES MORE ABOUT OUR WALK…THAN OUR TALK.

CLAIM to KNOW HIM? THAT’S NICE.

WHERE’S the PROOF?

=> COUNTLESS IDENTIFY as CHRISTIANS…WHAT’S THAT MEAN?

CHURCH on SUNDAY, or on OCCASION?

BELIEVE in GOD,, GENERICALLY?

BIBLE VERSE on F.B. OCASSIONALLY?

PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS = BELIEVERS—SO THEY’RE GRANDFATHERED IN?

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Challenge: DO YOU JUST IDENTIFY as a CHRISTIAN?

… OR DO YOU LOOK LIKE ONE??

JESUS COMMANDED to MAKE DISCIPLES

Meaning: DISCIPLE = STUDENT,, LEARNER...

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Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mission of the Church: MAKE DISCIPLES

WATER-BAPTISM

IDENTIFYING W/ CHRIST in HIS DEATH

TEACHING

Focus: TEACHING— “TO OBSERVE/KEEP” HIS COMMANDS.

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TRUE DISCIPLES = NOT JUST HEAD KNOWLEDGE

=> BUT HEART TRANSFORMATION

=> => & LIFE APPLICATION

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Challenge: MODERN BELIEVERS CAN’T PLEAD IGNORANCE.

HAVE ENTIRE COUNSEL of GOD

TEACHINGS of CHRIST & HIS APOSTLES

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

P. Conclusion: SCRIPTURE = SUFFICIENT for LIFE of GODLINESS

HE’S SHOWN US ALL WE NEED to KNOW…

… DO WE ACTUALLY FOLLOW IT?

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Transition: JOHN - GOING to DOUBLE DOWN on THIS...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 4

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2. The Self-Deceived Liar (v. 4-5a) 🤥

1 John 2:4–5 (ESV)

4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.

JOHN NEVER READ “HOW to WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE”

Unapologetic Take: CLAIMING to KNOW GOD…AND LIVING DISOBEDIENT to HIS COMMANDS?? YOU’RE a LIAR.

NO TRUTH in THEM.

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(Q) WHY DOES JOHN KEEP BEATING THIS DRUM?

Background: REMEMBER—HE’S ADDRESSING FALSE TEACHING

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Focus: 1 FALSE TEACHING,, REARS its UGLY HEAD…AGAIN & AGAIN:

ANTINOMIANISM (LAWLESSNESS)

Truth: GOD’S GRACE = GREATER THAN YOUR SIN

Misapplication: LIVE IT UP—INDULGE YOURSELF

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Connection: NO MATTER YOUR SIN—

— YOU CAN FIND a TEACHER OUT THERE THAT WILL APPROVE of IT/DISMISS IT.

NOT NEW.

SINCE 1ST CENTURY—PEOPLE HAVE MISAPPLIED GRACE!

Rom.6...SIN THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?? BY NO MEANS!

Last Wk: JOHN WRITING SO THAT BELIEVERS WOULDN’T SIN!

=> GOD = LIGHT <=

=> => WE AREN’T to LIVE in DARKNESS

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Conclusion: DOESN’T MEAN HIS GRACE is INSUFFICIENT…

=> WE SIMPLY AREN’T to ABUSE IT & CLAIM to BE CHRISTIANS...

Challenge: OUR FORGIVENESS COST GOD HIS SON!!—

— GOD TAKES SIN SERIOUSLY— SO SHOULD WE!!

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Transition: CONTRASTING “LIAR” — ONE WHO KEEPS HIS WORD...

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Contrasting Example (v. 5a):

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.

=> LAWLESS ONE = LIAR

=> => ONE WHO KEEPS HIS WORD—LOVE of GOD = PERFECTED/COMPLETE

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OUR LOVE for HIM…ORIGINATES in HIS LOVE for US.

1 John 4:19 (ESV)

19 We love because he first loved us.

Focus: GOD’S LOVE in US— HAS GOAL of TRANSFORMATION

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LOVE for GOD = PROVEN THROUGH ACTIONS

NOT MERELY INTELLECTUAL

NOT MERELY THEOLOGICAL ASCENT

GOD SAYS: YOU LOVE ME? PROVE IT.

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Illustration: TRUE in ANY RELATIONSHIP.

HUSBAND’S LOVE MIGHT BE QUESTIONED

NEVER BUYS FLOWERS

NEVER DOES ANYTHING NICE

SELFISH

NEVER SPENDS TIME TOGETHER...

HUSBAND CHEATING on HIS WIFE? NO QUESTION.

Conclusion: LOVE = PROVEN/DISPROVEN THROUGH ACTION.

SO IT IS WITH GOD.

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Transition: JOHN HAS ONE FINAL POINT to MAKE...

LOOK W/ ME @ 2nd PART of VS.5 & 6

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3. The One Who Abides in Him (v. 5b-6) 👣

1 John 2:5–6 (ESV)

By this we may know that we are in him:

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

FIRST EX.: KEEPING HIS COMMANDS

SECOND EX.: WALKING LIKE JESUS

CLAIMING to BE “IN CHRIST” = NO LONGER in ADAM, SINFUL HEAD....

.... LIFE SHOULD REFLECT CHRIST,, NOT ADAM

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Theology: WE WERE MADE to BE GOD’S IMAGERS/REPRESENTATIVES

=> ONLY DONE PERFECTLY in JESUS

Powerful Conclusion: HE’S CHIEF EXAMPLE of WHAT it MEANS to BE HUMAN!!

Focus: Duty of Christian = GROWING in CHRISTLIKENESS...

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Romans 8:28–29 (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

EVERYONE LOVES V.28— ONE of MY FAVORITES

(Q) What’s OUR ULTIMATE GOOD?

HEALTH?

WEALTH?

MAKING GOOD MEMORIES?

STUFF?

OUR ULTIMATE GOOD = CONFORMITY to IMAGE of CHRIST

Takeaway: GOD = WORKING OUT our CHRISTLIKENESS…

.... NOT OUR HAPPINESS

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GOD WORKS THROUGH ALL THINGS...

HARDSHIPS

PROBLEM PEOPLE

LIFE SITUATION/CIRCUMSTANCES

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Connection/Illustration: GOD HAS TWO CHIEF CONDUITS of GROWTH for ME...

TEACH ME to BE SELFLESS

TEACH ME to BE PATIENT

TEACH ME to LOVE

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Hypothesis: PERHAPS SOMETIMES WE UNDERGO EXTENDED HARDSHIPS....

.... BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T LEARNED the LESSON??

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History: O.T. JUDGES— REPEATED CYCLES...

PROSPERITY

FORGETTING GOD

HARDSHIP

REPENTANCE

PROSPERITY

**REPEAT**

Pondering: IF THEY’D HAVE LEARNED the LESSON—

— WOULD the HARDSHIPS HAVE KEPT COMING??

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Application: PERHAPS YOU’RE PRAYING for GOD....

REMOVE SITUATIONS

SOMEONE.... from YOUR LIFE—

& THEY’RE HIS CONDUIT for YOUR GROWTH in CHRISTLIKENESS

YOU HAVEN’T PASSED the TEST YET.

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Transition: WE’VE ALL GOT ROOM to GROW—

— BUT I BELIEVE JOHN is SAYING THIS MORNING THAT...

Preaching Idea: 💡

If you say you’re in Christ, your life should look something like His did.

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V. Application: What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)? 🤔

NOW SURELY WE’LL NEVER GET IT RIGHT 100%

CHRIST = SINLESS SON of GOD—BAR = IMPOSSIBLY HIGH

Safety Net: GRACE = SUFFICIENT WHEN WE FALL...

BUT JUST BECAUSE WE’LL NEVER FULLY ARRIVE..... DOESN’T MEAN WE SHOULDN’T TRY....

DOESN’T EXCUSE WALKING in DARKNESS

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GOAL = BECOMING LIKE JESUS…

WE CAN’T DO THIS APART from KNOWING HIM:

PERSONALLY

HIS DEMEANOR

HIS CHARACTER

HIS ACTS

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Connection: FEW YEARS AGO,, FAMOUS ACRONYM: “WWJD”

GOT FLACK

TOSSED OUT

=> BUT VERY HELPFUL

“WHAT WOULD JESUS DO…HERE?”

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CHRISTIANS = DISCIPLES…FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE.

*Disclaimer*: HE’S NOT HERE, INCARNATE

Conclusion: WE DO HAVE HIS TEACHING ENCAPSULATED in SCRIPTURE—

— BOTH GOSPELS & APOSTOLIC TRADITION

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(Q) WHEN—LAST TIME YOU READ in the GOSPELS?

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

—TELL the STORY of JESUS...

INCARNATION to CRUCIFIXION,....RESURRECTION,.... ASCENSION

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Application: SPEND TIME in GOSPELS…

LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS

Connection: WE’LL FIND HOW LITTLE WE ARE LIKE HIM SOMETIMES…

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Personal Testimony: GREAT CHALLENGE to ME—HOW JESUS TREATED PEOPLE when TIRED

Connection: HARD to KEEP HEAD on STRAIGHT WHEN EXHAUSTED??

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One of Favorite Stories: FEEDING 5,000

(Q) WHAT WAS JESUS DOING WHEN HE FED EVERYONE???

SEEKING to ESCAPE!

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Story Background: JESUS & DISCIPLES OVERWORKED—LOOKING for REST… HOP in BOAT

Mark 6:31 (ESV)

31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

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Rising Action: GREAT CROWD RUSHES AROUND LAKE,,

BEATS THEM to DESTINATION

Conclusion: JESUS HAS COMPASSION on THEM....

SPENDS DAY TEACHING THEM,,

WHEN IT GETS LATE HE FEEDS THEM.

Connection: I’VE GOT ROOM to GROW

COMPASSIONATE?? PROBABLY NOT.

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LEARNING GROWTH AREAS… comes from.... TIME in GOD’S WORD/

/ESP. GOSPELS....

READ NARRATIVES

SEE HOW JESUS WALKED…TALKED…LIVED...

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Illustration: TRYING to LIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE—WITHOUT CONSIDERING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE

= PUTTING PUZZLE TOGETHER WITHOUT the LID...

WE NEED HIS EXAMPLE

WE NEED HIS HELP

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Message Conclusion:

REMEMBER—THE GOAL of the CHRISTIAN LIFE = TO BECOME LIKE HIM.

IF WE CLAIM to KNOW HIM—

THERE OUGHT to BE SOME EVIDENCE in OUR LIVES....

EVEN IF IT’S in PROCESS...

Close in Prayer