WALKING IN THE LIGHT
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
SEND OFF KIDS!
Intro:
In 2007, the Barna Group did an extensive research project in which they asked non-Christian people why they rejected Christianity. Many Christian leaders were surprised to learn that none of the top six answers were evidential reasons. They rejected Christianity for moralistic reasons. The top three problems people had with Christianity were that it was viewed as:
anti homosexual (91 percent of responders)
judgmental (87 percent)
hypocritical (85 percent).
Modern people contend that the greatest proof God does not exist is the behavior of Christian themselves. In short the way Christians live and act is solid proof in their mind that what Christians believe is not true
Churches are filled with people who attend every Sunday service, don't say bad words, don't watch bad movies, and make sure to give their offering every week. However they don't actually know, love, or walk with God at all. They have simply adopted a culture of Christianity, an exoskeleton of religious trappings.
They don't actually know love or walk with God at all they have simply adopted a culture of Christianity exo skeleton religious trappings.
[Mark Clark,The Problem of God.]
[Mark Clark,The Problem of God.]
There is this huge disconnect between what we say we believe and how we live. The world sees it and is appalled by it. Our children and associates of the church see it. Many turn away because if you say you believe it and cannot live it, why should I even think I can. Maybe it’s not true after all.
The world sees it and is appalled by it. Our children and associates of the church see it and are jaded. Some even turn away because if you say you believe it and cannot live it, shy should I even think I can. Maybe it’s not true after all.
Have ministers of the gospel failed to effectively communicate God’s requirement of us?
Have we for too long turned a blind eye to sin in the camp?
Have we compromised on God’s Word?
Maybe for too long we have preaching “Feel good” messages. Trying to tickle the ears of people. Looking for loud shouts of Amen, a tweetable quote. Psych up the people.
As we dive into 1 John in our series “Walking with God - The Essentials”,
the Divine Invitation
today “Walking in the Light.” What does it look like?
today “Walking in the Light.” What does it look like?
Text:
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.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
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.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John recalls the the essence of Scripture, the summary of the Bible:
The world sees it and is appalled by it. Our children and associates of the church see it and are jaded. Some even turn away because if you say you believe it and cannot live it, shy should I even think I can. Maybe it’s not true after all.
John recalls the the essence of Scripture, he summary of the Bible:
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.
God is light.
The very first thing God made to bear in this universe was light.
Let there be light!
Because He is light, He hates darkness. He is holy, righteous, pure, good.
But God not only created light - He is light! He hates darkness. He is holy, righteous, pure.
Paul says - He dwells in unapproachable light.
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Jesus -
[No slide]
James - The Father of lights.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus -
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Take home message:
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
This is the foundation for what follows.
The implication
1 Jn 1.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Notice three “if we says”: [v.6,8,10]
We like to say, but we do not follow through:
English Standard Version Chapter 1
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1 John 1:8
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
There is an in-congruence of what we say and how we live - hypocrisy.
We are crucifying Christ all over again.
As Christians we are saying something everyday. Not only does God have a message but we also have a message. We are living a message.
As Christians we are saying something everyday. Not only does God have a message but we also have a message. We are living a message.
Paul said we are letters , known and read by all.
Gods message: God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we say … we lie and do not practice the truth.
How can our message correspond with God’s? How can we minimize inconsistencies?
He has a few instructions for us:
1. DO NOT WALK IN DARKNESS.
1. DO NOT WALK IN DARKNESS.
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Light - truth, righteousness, holiness, godliness, purity. God.
Darkness - lies, hatred, evil, wickedness, selfishness, worldliness, unholiness, perversion. Satanic.
Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
.
Wonder why many people will not turn to God, regardless of all the apologetic that you do? They desire to remain in sin. They love their sin.
I know smoking is bad for my health but I love it.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
God has redeemed us from darkness. Let us not walk in darkness.
Believers walk the narrow way.
We have made Christianity an academic venture, a theoretical position but living for Jesus was always meant to be about life- transformation.
2. HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
2. HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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.
If we walk in the light
as He is in the light - the standard
Attending church, gathering with the believers is an integral part of our walk with God.
We have fellowship with one another - the result of deciding to walk with God
Attending church, gathering with the believers is an integral part of our walk with God.
iF
as we have fellowship
we begin to hear, observe, learn from the saints of God more about God, more saintly habits
we have some flesh and blood people to imitate, to model our lives after
we see the light manifested in them.
this is doable
we are spurring each other onto good works
Attending church, gathering with the believers is an integral part of our walk with God.
.
You can go to church regularly and not have a relationship with God but you cannot have a vibrant relationship with God without going to church regularly.
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Attending church, gathering with the believers is an integral part of our walk with God.
You can go to church regularly and not have a relationship with God but you cannot have a vibrant relationship with God without going to church regularly.
In getting to the house of God regularly - we are saying my endeavor is to live for God.
Sending children to music lessons, ballet, basketball - several times a week, hours and hours. Because they want to get better.
We want to get better at living for God.
1 JN
But as we observe the believers, we begin to see our failures, shortcomings, sin and realize I am not good enough.
So John adds - and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
The blood cleanses us and puts us in good standing to be a part of the church.
I also believe that as we gather, the blood is cleansing us. Like we sang last week.
3. RECOGNIZE THE SIN WITHIN
3. RECOGNIZE THE SIN WITHIN
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 john
You may wonder, “Are there people out there who think man is good, He is not a sinner?
“Saying we are sinners is putting a wet blanket on mankind.”
We live in a generation that sees itself as pure, would pontificate on right and wrong.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
. 20
For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.
They parade their sin like Sodom.
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We have all inherited a sin nature from Adam.
Man is not a sinner because he sins.
Man sins because he is a sinner.
Just look, read the news sometimes and you are appalled, “How can someone do that?”
We live in the age the mighty are falling all around us.
What is our sin today? our shortcoming?
Ps: Let the word of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable.
Surely we are not perfect. What are we working on?
4. CONFESS OUR SINS
4. CONFESS OUR SINS
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We do not have a confessional box but when last have you confessed your sins?
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Jesus - The Lord’s Prayer:
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Confess to God.
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Slide
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Confess to each other.
Why don’t we?
Matt.
Use gossip as an excuse
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
we lack sensitivity to God’s holiness
Forgive us our trespasses
We are too proud
We do not understand the spiritual life.
We see church maybe to show off how good we are not realizing it is the opposite. We recognize our sin and our need for God.
Anytime I hear someone confessing their sin I know this person is humbling himself before God.
The more the Word is dwelling is us, the more we see our sin.
Recognize sin, confess sin and forsake sin.
5. DO NOT PRACTICE SIN
5. DO NOT PRACTICE SIN
JJKJFDFDF
1 John 2.
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.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Recognizing and confessing our sin is not the end.
We do not keep on sinning repeatedly.
The goal:
YOU MAY NOT SIN!
English Standard Version Chapter 2
you may not sin.
1 John 3.6
English Standard Version Chapter 3
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Has this been ever a goal in your life as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus?
Throughout Scripture we are admonished to live holy and righteous lives before God, yet somehow we have managed to dumb that message down
We focus on
The love of God
The grace of God
The blessing of God and ignore the holiness of God or God’s demand on our lives.
.
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery - Go and sin no more.
To the invalid at the pool of Bethesda “See, you are well. Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.
But what if we do sin?
Jesus is our advocate.
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.
1 John 2.
Advocate: one who pleads the cause of another; specifically : one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court
Def: one who pleads the cause of another; specifically : one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court
Paraklētos: One who acts on another’s behalf as a helper, legal advocate, advisor, or intermediary. Used only by John in the NT - in John and 1 John.
Faithlife Study Bible Paraklētos
Paraklētos
Definition
One who acts on another’s behalf as a helper, legal advocate, advisor, or intermediary
Here Jesus serves as a paraklētos, advocating in the court of heaven with the Father, on the our behalf.
At no time at all should you as a child of God feel you are not accepted by God.
When we sin, fail God, we feel like the worst person on the church and sometimes even abstain from attending church. You don’t need to.
The reason why He can legally advocate for us is because -
Jesus is the propitiation for our sins
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John
Propitiation - to propitiate
Propitiate - to win or regain favor with God
Propitiation: He is the atoning sacrifice that bears God’s wrath and turns it to favor.
He is the atoning sacrifice that bears God’s wrath and turns it to favor.
Conc.
Conc.
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
We must make holiness a high calling in our lives.
Examine yourself this morning. Are you walking in the light?
What is God dealing with in your heart right now? Repent of it, confess it, forsake it.
We have a lifetime project to eradicate sin.