Knowing that we Know Him
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Intro
Intro
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE SAVED?
When I ask some people if they're saved, they sometimes answer, "Well I think so" or "I hope so." What if someone came up to me and asked, "Bro James, are you married?"
Suppose I say, "Well, I think so." You say, "Now wait a minute. You either are or you aren't. I mean, do you have a wife?" And I respond, "Well, I'm not quite sure, but I certainly hope so." You'd think I was bonkers, wouldn't you? I KNOW I'm married!
How do I know?---Because on May 25, 1991 I stood in front of a preacher, my Dad. Daddy said to me "Do you promise to love and cherish, in sickness and health, for better or worse till death do you part?
I answered “I do." And he said a few other nice things, and there was some pretty music and pretty flowers everywhere and then he said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
The last thing he said was, “it is my pleasure to introduce to you James and Shannon Dorman”
The last thing he said was, "You may now kiss your wife." And, son, did I ever kiss her.---Mmm-mmm!!
How do I know I'm married? Because it was an event that forever changed my life!
How do I know I'm married? Because it was an event that forever changed my life!
To know.
And that's how you know you are saved. It's an event that forever altered your life.
John continues in his letter to point out the change salvation brings.
In , John points out assurance from obedience.
He discusses how real salvation leads to obedience.
John’s desire is to bring us assurance
He does this so that, “by this we know that we have come to know Him”
“by this we know that we have come to know Him”
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:3-11
John’s desire is to bring us assurance
“by this we know that we have come to know Him”
1. We keep His Commandments
1. We keep His Commandments
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1 John 2:3-
Those genuinely born again display the habit of obedience. Obedience results in assurance of salvation.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments”
easy to understand, difficult to perform
ILL. If you jump off a 10?story building, you're going to meet with an abrupt & sudden stop. If you flirt with alcohol & drugs, you will reap what you sow. If you're immoral in your lifestyle, you will reap what you sow.
The test is if know Christ Jesus we will keep His commandants.
A true living relationship with Christ will be evidenced by the believer putting into practice the commandments of Christ in his daily life.
Christ expects us to practice what we know about Him and come to know Him better.
Changed life results in changed behavior.
Changed life results in changed behavior. An example of changed practices might be to remember the sabbath and keep it holy or join with the brethren and worship on Sunday. His commandments are not burdensome but free from burden and bondage of sin yet far too many “Christians” rarely “keep His commandments.” [If is a third class condition or very unlikely.]
His commandments are not burdensome but free from burden and bondage of sin yet far too many “Christians” rarely “keep His commandments.”
His commandments are not burdensome but free from burden and bondage of sin yet far too many “Christians” rarely “keep His commandments.”
The verb “keep”
was used of a sentry walking his post.
It means to keep watch over or to be on guard so as to obey and fulfill God's will in one's life.
The verb’s present tense indicates that this should be the daily habit of life.
At an art auction in 1997, VAN GOGH'S PAINTING Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold for the high bid of $82.5 million. And Renoir's beautiful Au Moulin de la Galette was auctioned for $78.1 million. Now, admittedly, these are wonderful paintings. But only a few people in the world can afford to hang one of these on their living room wall.
Both of these paintings are available as reproductions, and you can buy a Renoir or Van Gogh for your home. They are not collector items though, because they are only copies, not originals. They have very little value.
I see a parallel in the spiritual realm. Our world is filled with religion, and much of it appears to be Christian.
Many talk about Jesus, but they do not have an authentic personal relationship with Him, nor are they keeping His Word.
They are only pretenders.
Real faith leads to obedience
Real faith leads to obedience
It leads to actions
Obviously a person cannot say he is saved and then do as he pleases. Obedience determines the truthfulness or the falseness of our profession.
Verse 5 reveals how:
“but whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.”
The Psalmist said "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path ().
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Keep His word- lit “keeps on keeping”) God's Word you
a. abide in God's Word.
spend time in God's Word daily to discover His will and obey His instructions.
b. obey God’s word
once we see what it says, DO IT
2. We walk as He walked
2. We walk as He walked
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:5
If we abide in Him, we walk as He walked
Our duty lies in acts!
His life is the ultimate pattern of obedience
We can do this because we have His Spirit’s”
Presence
Power
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
1. Speak as Jesus Spoke
1. Speak as Jesus Spoke
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
The hours before His crucifixion, Jesus knew he would soon be betrayed, arrested, beaten and crucified.
The hours before His crucifixion, Jesus knew he would soon be betrayed, arrested, beaten and crucified.
Jesus knew His apostles would scatter, curse & swear they never knew Him.
Yet, look at His words to them in the hours before his abandonment, torture and death.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
He spoke words of peace, words of love, words to calm, words to heal (even before his betrayal)
C. If you knew what Jesus knew in those hours, what would you have said to your disciples?
D. He spoke words of peace, words of love, words to calm, words to heal (even before his betrayal)
Jesus’ Words always put other’s needs above His own!
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Old English Prayer from the 1600’s
F. Do our words do the same?
G. Read
H. Old English Prayer from the 1600’s
Lord Grant this one request I pray:
Guide thou my tongue! The words I say
can never be called back again,
should they cause anger, sorrow, pain then
in an ever-widening sphere,
they spread their havoc far and near.
So guide my tongue in every word,
that it may bless where it is heard.
2. See as Jesus Saw ()
2. See as Jesus Saw ()
II. See as Jesus Saw ()
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus had the ability to look beyond the surface and see the soul!
I believe that God (through the Holy Spirit) can give the mature Christian the same ability!
we can see needs around us
we can see people like He did
see their need.
3. Serve as Jesus Served ()
3. Serve as Jesus Served ()
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What does it mean to Walk As Jesus Walked?
Focus our lives around serving others-like Jesus did
Jesus did not exist to serve Himself
He deserved to be worshiped/served-
yet He served others/pointed them to God
Conclusion:
Conclusion: