Let God Be True and Every Man a Liar: A Mandate for Global Evangelization

1 John 1:5–2:2 “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.”

Where did they hear this message that they are proclaiming?

From Jesus himself who John 1:4 “4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

What was the message that they heard and proclaimed?

God is light

What does it mean that God is light?

What does light do?

Shows us the way

Sustains life

John is telling us that Jesus shows us the way. Shows us how to live. But Jesus is more than just a guide. He is the sustainer of our life.

What is darkness?

darkness is just what happens when the light goes out. Darkness is nothing. It’s just the absent of light

What is evil?

evil is just the absent of good. It’s the absent of God.

So if Jesus is the light. If Jesus is the sustainer of our life. And if sin and evil is just the absent of God. Then to live in sin will always bring death.

It would be like trying to grow a garden in the dark. It can’t work.

So trying to earn God’s favor apart from Jesus is like trying to grow a plant in the dark.

Can you have fellowship with the light while being in darkness? So can you live in your sin and have fellowship with God?

Trying to follow God while being in unrepentant sin us like trying to enjoy the sun in the cave.

How do we walk in the light?

by admitting sin, confessing it to God and letting him cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8 (ESV)

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

How does that verse maybe impact your ability to take constructive cristism?

Here’s the problem with pride it blinds us to our sin. In order to become a christian you have to admit before GOd and man that you are a sinner.

But then when someone says you did something wrong you act like they are crazy.

Isn’t it the most believable thing in the word to think that maybe you sinned?

And yet we defend ourselves like the possibility of you doing something wrong is the most insane thing ever.

Because our pride as deceived us.

That doesn’t mean that everytime someone calls you out for doing something wrong you need to just amit it whether its wrong or not.

But it does mean that that nature posture of the christian is to assume that you could have sinned and then in humilty carefully examine your life and actions.

Why dont we like to admit we are sinners?

John says he’s writing these things so that we wouldn’t sin but he knows we will sin and when we do he’s letting us know we have an advocate.

What is an advocate again?

What is this advocate for us in verse 2?

What is propitiation? A wrath differing gift. Christ is the advocate for us to the Father. But he doesn’t advocate based off what we’ve done or how we served. He points to himself and says look how I paid their penalty.

Guys your whole life will be one of sin and repentance. By GOd’s grace you may grow and sin less but until we see Jesus face to face we will continue in our sin to some extent or another.

So get very used to coming to Christ time and time again confessing your sin and letting him pay the penalty.

questions

If we don’t have fellowship with one another that must mean we aren’t walking in the light.