These Things I've Written... John 2:1-6

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Love is a powerful motivator. Early church father Clement said, “Love unites us to God. ‘Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing haughty in love; love does all things in one accords. Without love, nothing is well pleasing to God.”

I have love on the brain this morning!

Answer this question: How does a Christian “love” God?

We often talk about how much God loves mankind, but shouldn’t this love be prompted by our response?

I am trying to teach my children to respond to people in gratitude and respect. I believe that these traits are slowly being lost in our society. It’s important that our young people learn to look people in the eye and say “yes sir”, “no sir”, and “thank you”.

If I’m being honest though, I have said thank you to others without truly being thankful . I want to teach my children to match their words along with action.

The passages we just read are important motivators to learn how to return the love that God has for His children.

1. Get to know your lawyer. (v. 1-2)

Verses 1 and 2 ought to provide lot of relief for ever Christian this morning!

John speaks of his readers as “little children”

He had an affectionate relationship with the people he was writing to. He had been a huge part of their faith development and was writing to encourage and equip them in their own faith.

As a father to his children, he spoke, not to condone sin.

He was not giving them a license. In fact, he hope that they would not sin at all. In chapter 1, he encouraged his readers to “walk in the light” by confessing their sin and to be forgiven.

John taught the same message as the other writers in the New Testament. We are to “hate” our sin.

John knew that sin was eventually going to happen then so he wrote clear directions on what a Christian was to do when they found themselves in sin.

When someone gave their heart to Jesus and began to follow Him, they were a part of the His family. Families have special privilege.

Instead of living in fear, being a member of God’s family allowed people to go at once to God, the Judge and confess their sin.

John promises that we would be met by an “advocate”.

Another word for advocate can be “lawyer”. John wanted his readers to know that they had a wonderful lawyer who would serve as their advocate.

Advocacy is God’s family blessing. There are other types of blessings He grants to everyone, but salvation, peace, and advocacy are granted to His children alone.

Advocate - paraclete is applied to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We see the unity between the Second and Third persons of the Trinity. Jesus is the lawyer for us above, and in His earthly absence, here below the Holy Ghost is the other lawyer for us on earth. At this moment, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are working together to bring comfort and work in you.

Teaches truths which cannot be uttered in words. Provides comfort and joy in the heart.

We are told that Jesus Christ, Himself is our “propitiation.”

The sin of man has caused an estrangement between man and God. Jesus removed this estrangement by appeasing His father, the judge of all mans sin. He appeased the wrath of God.

propitiation - to appease.

There is a need for God to be appeased because of the alienation that we have with Him through sin.

Jesus entered the history of man and removed the barrier between and man and God by dying on the cross. He provided the bridge that we needed to be able to find ourselves in position with God.

He didn’t do this through bribery or a snaky way that you would think of in terms of the human mind. He provided a way for people who are dead in their sins to be altered and changed into people who are alive.

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? It’s so wide! (18 miles) If we decide to build a bridge that would allow us to walk across, we would need the builder to bring 18 miles worth of materials to get us across. 17 and a half would do us no good. We would need it all.

This morning, you may be wondering if the propitiation that Jesus has offered to God for your sin is enough to be forgiven. I can make you this promise. The propitiation is as exactly as wide as your sin. It fits perfectly.

Don’t add extra obstacles in your life.

unconfessed sin

Guilt from confessed sin

religion

negative people

We need to get to know the Savior that provided for us. The more we get to know Him, the more we will realize the peace we have with Him.

2. The Test of Obedience (v. 3-4)

How do we know that we know God? John says that we “keep” His “commandments”.

“Keep” - lit. means “watch”, “guard”, and “keep safe” as a precious thing.

There is a conduct of a Christian that men and women are to keep. A person who claims to know God but does not keep watch of how they follow Him is presumptuous.

“Commandments” - faith, love, and obedience. John never uses the word “the law” to talk about Christian obedience. Our obedience reveals our commitment to Christ.

John poses that the way to know ones stand with God is how they obey Him

Obedience reveals commitment to Christ.

A person’s words are tested by their works. If a person disobeys God, their claim to have come to know God is a lie.

According to John, a person cannot have an authentic relationship with Jesus and also oppose His commandments with their actions.

As a Father, I will never lose the love I have for my children no matter how they act, but my relationship with them will grow whenever they learn to obey me. Obedience provides peace in our home and opens the door for relationship.

The same is true for our relationship with God. He loves you and I no matter what, but He desires obedience in our actions so that we can grow in relationship with Him.

He’s not to be taken lightly. He is to be obeyed and followed.

Do you want to only be saved by Jesus or do you want to be His son? (You can only have both.)

The aim of God in establishing His kingdom was to produce holy men and women.

John 14:21 NASB95

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

Test your life before Him. Are you walking in obedience to His will for your life or do you have your own agenda? Your decision in this matter will affect your relationship with Him.

3. Learn to be loyal and trust the process. (v. 5-6)

Our works do not save us but they produce the proof our salvation.

They supply evidence of a love that will make us complete.

Being a Christian consists in essence of a personal relationship to God in Christ, knowing Him, loving Him, and living in Him.

Jesus behaved in His life to show people who His father is.

When a Christian obeys His commands, they began to behave like Him.

In the life of obedience, love is perfected and produces something special.

God is love. John wanted the people to realize that their life in Christ in obedience is a manifestation of God’s love.

Love in its very nature is returned. Its perfectly ideal when both parties are involved.

When man loves perfectly, his love is the love of God shed in his heart.

Clement said, “Let us fix our eyes on the Blood of Christ, and let us know that it is precious to the Father, because it was poured our for our salvation, and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.”

My very first day of two-a-days compared to my last. The process of being obedient to my coaches is what made me better.

There is a commitment called forward to each and every Christian for the sake of inner transformation.

It will work inside of you to provide holy character.

The goal is to teach you to “To do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”.

Inward purity of heart and springing to Christian action.

The process cause three things to appear:

Union with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is with you at every stage of your life and will teach you to be like Christ.

The result is “Christ in us” and will allow spiritual transformation.

This process is gradual. You don’t get to come to this place quickly. It’s a daily walk.