Worthy of Our Lives

1 John 1:5-10

Illustration

Gatekeeping Illustration

If i wear a band t shirt out, and i claim to be a fan, if someone asks me my favorite song, I should know A song

New City Nirvana T Shirt

Walked up to her and told her i liked her shirt

“I’m gonna stop you right there. I don’t listen to them and don’t know any songs. I just like the shirt”

Fair enough. She was honest about what she did and did not call herself

It doesn’t matter what we call ourselves though if we are unable to back up what we say

Practice what We Preach

As Christians, the Lord is far more concerned with our heart than our actions

Are we Christian by brand? By name? or are we Christians by our love?

John parallels this idea of light vs darkness

Light represents Christ while the dark represents the things opposed to Christ

John claims that we cannot claim to be in light while operating in the dark

Times when we follow Christ with ease:

When its convenient to be Christian

When life is hard

When there is minimal obstacles in our way

Times when we might be inclined to compromise

When we’re busy

When it’s inconvenient

When our nature wants to take us a different route

When we “don’t need him”

Failure is not an If But When

When we slip up and fail, our heart has to be to repentant

John says that if anyone claims to be without sin, he is lying

Part of growing in Christ is growing in our understanding of the gravity of our sin

Repentance= change of mind, repentance, the state of changing any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living;

When we repent of our sin, or repent to one another for wrongdoing, we must turn from our ways.

“The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”

If God is worthy of our lives, then that includes our repentance

John outlines the process of said repentance

Confess our sins. Repenting of our sins cleanses us

Claiming to be without said sins will only separate us.

The lord wants us. He cares greatly for each of us

He knows us better than we know ourselves

He’s not scared of our sin nor is he surprised by it. When we seek forgiveness he is anxious to give it greatly