Walking In The Light

1 THE HYMN—‘BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS'— • WAS WRITTEN BY DR. JOHN FAWCETT, • PASTOR OF A SMALL BUT POOR BAPTIST CONGREGATION • AT WAINSGATE, YORKSHIRE IN ENGLAND 2 3 • HIS SALARY OF £25 A YEAR WAS TOTALLY INADEQUATE • SO HE ACCEPTED A CALL TO A LARGE, INFLUENTIAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN LONDON • HE PREACHED HIS FAREWELL SERMON • AND WAS LOADING HIS BELONGINGS ON TO WAGONS TO MOVE TO LONDON 4 • WHEN MEMBERS OF HIS CONGREGATION, • SHOWING DEEP AFFECTION AND GRIEF, • PLEADED WITH HIM NOT TO LEAVE THEM • THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE WERE SO OVERCOME 5 • THAT THEY SAT DOWN AND WEPT. • 'OH JOHN, JOHN, I CANNOT BEAR THIS,' SAID HIS WIFE. • 'WE SHALL NOT GO,' SAID THE PASTOR. • HIS DECISION TO REMAIN WITH THEM 6 • WAS HAILED BY HIS PEOPLE WITH GREAT JOY (PAUSE) • TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT • DR. FAWCETT WROTE THE —‘BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS'— • THEY HAD PROVED THAT THE LOVING FELLOWSHIP OF SAINTS • WAS MORE TO BE DESIRED THAN MORE MONEY • AND OTHER PHYSICAL COMFORTS • FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST • IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE • IT ENCOURAGES US, HELPS US GROW IN CHRIST 7 8 • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR FELLOWSHIP • WITH ONE ANOTHER IS DEPENDENT ON BEING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • AND THAT BRINGS US TO A QUESTION. • DOES GOD REQUIRE ANYTHING FOR US TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM? 9 • TODAY WE WILL SEE IF JOHN CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION • TURN TO 1 JOHN 1:5 • THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN WAS WRITTEN TO CORRECT SOME FALSE TEACHERS • JOHN BEGAN THE BOOK BY CORRECTING THE FALSE TEACHERS VIEW 10 • THAT JESUS WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HUMAN • JOHN AND THE APOSTLES HAD HEARD AND SEEN AND EXAMINED JESUS • THEY TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING • AND HAD BEEN MANIFESTED AS THE MAN JESUS CHRIST • NOW JOHN WELL TELL HIS READERS SOME OF WHAT • THIS MAN JESUS CHRIST HAD TOLD HIM 11 1 JOHN 1:5 12 THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND ANNOUNCE TO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 13 GOD TELLS US ABOUT HIMSELF • JOHN MAKES A VERY IMPORTANT POINT HERE • HE SAYS; THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM • SEE THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE RUNNING AROUND • SAYING THINGS ABOUT GOD • BUT THE THINGS THEY WERE SAYING • WERE NOT THINGS THEY HAD HEARD FROM GOD • WHEN WE HEAR SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT GOD 14 15 • WE NEED TO LISTEN VERY CLOSE TO FIND OUT • THE SOURCE OF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING • IS THEIR SOURCE GOD, THE BIBLE, JESUS CHRIST, AN APOSTLE • OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? 16 • SOMETIMES PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GOD AND SPIRITUAL THINGS • BUT THEIR SOURCE IS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE • POP CULTURE, PSYCHOLOGY, CELEBRITIES, • OR ANY NUMBER “FALSE TEACHER” • JOHN SAYS THEY HEARD THE MESSAGE FROM HIM • HIM HERE MEANS JESUS CHRIST • WE HAVE A BIBLE FILLED WITH HIS WORDS • THE WORDS THEY (THE APOSTLE) HEARD WE CAN READ FOR OUR SELVES 17 18 • THEY ANNOUNCED IT TO US • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STICK TO WHAT THEY SAID • AND WHEN WE ANNOUNCE IT TO OTHERS • WE NEED TO 19 ONLY TEACH WHAT GOD HAS SAID • JOHN AND THE OTHER APOSTLES HEARD THE MESSAGE FROM CHRIST • AND THEN THEY ANNOUNCED IT TO OTHERS • OUR TEXT USES THE WORD ANNOUNCE • SOME TRANSLATIONS SAY PROCLAIM • I JUST LOVE THAT THE WORD IN GREEK • FOR ANNOUNCE OR PROCLAIM IS ANGELOS • THE SAME WORD IS USED OF THE ANGELS 20 21 • WHEN WE ARE ANNOUNCING OR PROCLAIMING • GOD’S MESSAGE WE ARE BEING SOMEWHAT LIKE • THE ANGELS, HIS HERALDS BRINGING FORTH HIS WORD • AND JUST LIKE THE ANGELS WOULD NEVER DEVIATE 22 • FROM HIS WORD, JUST LIKE THEY WOULD STAY TRUE TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID • WE NEED TO STAY TRUE TO HIS WORD • IF THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY IT.. DON’T TEACH IT! • IF WE DID NOT HEAR IT FROM HIM DON’T ANNOUNCE IT TO THEM! REVELATION 22:18–19 I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: IF ANYONE ADDS TO THEM, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; 23 24 • AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY HIS PART FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND FROM THE HOLY CITY, WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. 25 • THIS IDEA OF ONLY PROCLAIMING WHAT GOD HAS SAID • IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING SPIRITUAL • ETHICAL, MORAL, BUT IT CRUCIAL WHEN WE PROCLAIM WHO GOD IS 26 • JOHN TELLS HIS READERS THAT • GOD IS LIGHT, • THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY HAD HEARD FROM CHRIST 27 • NOW, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT JOHN SAYS GOD IS LIGHT • WE HAVE AT LEAST EIGHT OTHER TIMES IN HIS WRITING THAT JOHN SAYS GOD IS LIGHT 28 JOHN 1:4–5 IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT COMPREHEND IT. 29 JOHN 8:12 THEN JESUS AGAIN SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; HE WHO FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN THE DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.” 30 JOHN 12:46 “I HAVE COME AS LIGHT INTO THE WORLD, SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME WILL NOT REMAIN IN DARKNESS. 31 REVELATION 21:23 AND THE CITY HAS NO NEED OF THE SUN OR OF THE MOON TO SHINE ON IT, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD HAS ILLUMINED IT, AND ITS LAMP IS THE LAMB. 32 • BUT WHEN JOHN SAYS GOD IS LIGHT HERE IN THIS BOOK • WHAT DOES HE MEAN? • WELL THE IDEA OF LIGHT CAN MEAN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS • IT IS VERY TRUE GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY • OR LIGHT CAN BE TALKING ABOUT TRUTH • AND CERTAINLY GOD IS TRUTH • BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO SEE THE IDEA OF LIGHT • LIGHT IS THE THING THAT REVEALS OR SHOWS THINGS 33 34 • WITHOUT LIGHT, IN THE DARKNESS THINGS REMAIN HIDDEN • BUT WITH THE LIGHT ALL THINGS ARE REVEALED • IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT JOHN IS ABOUT TO SAY • I THINK THE IDEA THAT GOD IS LIGHT 35 • IS THAT GOD REVEALS THINGS WE WOULD RATHER KEEP HIDDEN • IF THIS IS WHAT JOHN IS TALKING ABOUT • THEN WHEN HE SAYS; AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 36 • IT WOULD MEAN THAT NOTHING REMAINS HIDDEN • TO THOSE WHO ARE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • SEE, IF HE IS LIGHT AND WE ARE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • THEN WE WILL SEE THE THINGS WE WOULD RATHER HIDE 37 IN GOD THERE IS NO DARKNESS NONE AT ALL • I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH DARKNESS, • I DON'T JUST MEAN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS • I MEAN I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH LITERAL DARKNESS. 38 • AS A PHOTOGRAPHER I SPENT MANY YEARS WORKING IN A DARK ROOM. • THAT MEANS I SPENT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS IN COMPLETE DARKNESS. • WORKING IN THE DARKNESS DEVELOPING FILM PRINTING PHOTOS 39 • THERE'S AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT DARKNESS IT LIES TO YOU • IN THE DARKNESS YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE • YOU'RE REAL SURE YOU KNOW RIGHT WHERE THAT COUNTERTOP IS IN THE DARK • YOU'RE JUST CERTAIN YOU KNOW 40 • WHERE THE STOOL YOU NEED TO SIT ON IS IN THE DARK • YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE • YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE LEG OF THAT TABLE IS. • BUT IF YOU'RE SO CERTAIN WHERE ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN THE DARK 41 • HOW COME IT IS YOU KEEP STUBBING YOUR TOE OR CAN'T FIND THAT BOX OR • MISSED THE STOOL WHEN YOU GO TO SIT DOWN • SEE WHEN WE'RE WALKING IN THE DARKNESS WE FOOL OURSELVES 42 • WE THINK WE KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING WITH REGARD TO SINNING • BUT WITHOUT GOD'S LIGHT TO REVEAL OUR SINS TO US • WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE DOING 43 1 JOHN 1:6–7 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET WALK IN THE DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH; 44 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. SEEING OUR SINS IS REQUIRED • IF WE HIDE OUR SINS FROM GOD’S LIGHT • WE ARE NOT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • I THINK THIS IS WHAT JOHN MEANS WHEN HE SAYS 45 46 • IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET WALK IN THE DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH; • THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE IF WE SAY STATEMENTS • WE KNOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN TO CORRECT FALSE TEACHERS • IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THESE IF WE SAY STATEMENTS • ARE ACTUALLY THINGS THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE SAYING • THAT WOULD MEAN THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE SAYING • THEY HAD FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD BUT THEY WALKED IN DARKNESS 47 48 • NOW SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY THAT WALKING IN DARKNESS • MEANS SINNING, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY GET THIS IDEA • HONESTLY BEFORE I REALLY LOOKED INTO THIS • I ASSUMED THAT IS WHAT IT MEANT 49 • BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL THE IF WE SAY STATEMENTS • AS DESCRIBING THE FALSE TEACHERS WE SEE A CLEAR PICTURE • OF WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK IN DARKNESS • SEE I THINK WALKING IN DARKNESS IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT WALKING IN SIN • I THINK IT IS TALKING ABOUT NOT LETTING GOD’S LIGHT • REVEAL WHEN TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE SINNING • ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK THAT IS CAUSE WHAT JOHN SAYS NEXT 50 51 • BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, • NOTICE HOW JOHN SAYS WALK IN THE LIGHT NOT ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT • SEE, JOHN HAS A CONTRAST HERE BETWEEN • WALKING IN THE DARKNESS AND WALKING IN THE LIGHT • NOW IF WALKING IN THE DARK MEANS SINNING • THEN WALKING IN THE LIGHT WOULD MEAN NOT SINNING 52 53 • AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER • WE WOULD HAVE TO NOT SIN, BUT WE ALL KNOW WE CANT DO THAT • SO WALKING IN THE LIGHT CANNOT MEAN NEVER SINNING • BUT IF WALKING IN DARKNESS MEANS 54 • NOT LETTING GOD REVEAL OUR SINS TO US • THEN WALKING IN THE LIGHT MEANS LETTING • GOD’S LIGHT REVEAL OUR SINS • THAT WOULD MEAN THAT TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 55 • WE MUST ALLOW HIM TO REVEAL OUR SINS • ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVICT US OF OUR SINS • AND THEN; THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. • IF WALKING IN THE LIGHT MEANT NEVER SINNING THEN 56 • WE WOULD NOT NEED THE BLOOD OF JESUS TO CLEANSE OUR SINS FROM US • BUT WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT ALL OUR SINS WERE CLEANSED AT THE CROSS • WELL YES THEY WERE, WITH REGARD TO OUR ETERNAL SALVATION 57 • ALL OUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN AND CLEANSED AT THE CROSS • BUT FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, FOR ABIDING IN AN WALKING WITH CHRIST • WE NEED TO DEAL WITH OUR SINS DAILY • THIS IS WHY JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY • ‘AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. • FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WE NEED TO ALLOW GOD’S LIGHT • TO REVEAL OUR SINS TO US • TO DO THIS WE MUST WALK IN HIS LIGHT 58 ONE TIME WE MOVED A LARGE STONE IN A GARDEN • ALL SORTS OF TINY CRITTERS LIVED UNDER THE STONE • THEY HAD ALWAYS LIVED IN THE DARKNESS (PAUSE) • WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN HIT THEM 59 60 • AFTER THE STONE WAS MOVED • THEY RUNNING OUTTA FEAR IN EVERY DIRECTION • YA SEE, THEY COULD NOT LIVE IN THE LIGHT • ONCE THE STONE WAS PUT BACK 61 • YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEM SCURRY AND CRAWL • TO GET BACK TO WHERE THEY HAD BEEN IN THE DARKNESS (PAUSE) • IF WE GO AROUND SAYING WE HAVE NEVER SINNED • WE ARE LIVING LIFE UNDER A ROCK • WE ARE WALKING IN DARKNESS • WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES • WE ARE CALLING GOD A LIAR (PAUSE) 62 63 • ONLY WHEN WE COME OUT FROM UNDER THE ROCK • AND LIVE IN THE LIGHT CAN WE SEE OUR SINS • AND WHEN WE SEE THEM WE CAN CONFESS THEM • AND HE WILL FAITHFULLY FORGIVE OUR SINS 1 JOHN 1:8–10 64 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS 65 AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US. 66 CLAIMING TO NEVER SIN • MEANS WE ARE NOT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • HERE WE SEE ANOTHER OF THE IF WE SAY STATEMENTS • IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, 67 • THE FALSE TEACHERS CLAIMED TO BE WITHOUT SIN • NOW, THEY DID NOT CLAIM TO NEVER DO SINFUL THINGS • THEY CLAIMED THAT THEIR “SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE” • ALLOWED THEM TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED 68 • AND NOT BE CONTAMINATED BY SIN • THEY EVEN CLAIMED THAT IT WAS REQUIRED • TO ALL KINDA SINFUL STUFF TO ATTAIN THE PERFECTION THEY HAD • JOHN SAYS IF WE GO AROUND SAYING THE THINGS THEY SAID 69 • WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. • OUR WORLD IS OVERFLOWING WITH PEOPLE LIKE THESE FALSE TEACHERS • WHO SAY THEIR SINS ARE NOT SINS • THEY HAVE MASSIVE RATIONALIZATIONS FOR WHY 70 • THEIR SINS ARE NOT SIN • EVERYONE IS DOING IT, ITS NOT HURTING ANYONE • I WAS BORN THIS WAY, IT’S MY BODY, • YOU CAN’T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE (PAUSE) 71 • I AM NOT SAYING THESE THINGS ARE NOT TRUE • YES EVERYONE IS DOING IT, AND MAYBE IT IS NOT HURTING ANYONE • AND YES YOU WERE BORN THAT WAY, AND IT IS YOUR BODY • BUT SIN IS SIN, AND NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON • DOING IT IS WRONG AND SAYING YOU ARE NOT SINNING • IS NOT THE SOLUTION • JOHN TELLS US THE SOLUTION TO OUR SINS • IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS 72 • AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. • INSTEAD OF SAYING WE HAVE NO SIN • JOHN CALLS FOR US TO CONFESS OUR SINS • THE WORD TRANSLATED CONFESS MEANS TO ACKNOWLEDGE 73 • TO ADMIT, TO AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF SOMETHING • TO CONFESS YOUR SINS MEANS TO ADMIT THEM • AND AGREE WITH GOD THAT THEY ARE SINS 74 • AND DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS • WHEN WE AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT OUR SINS • IT SAYS THE GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS 75 76 • AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANS US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (PAUSE) • WHEN WE DENY OUR SINS WE ARE STUCK LIVING IN THEM • IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST WE ARE HEADED TO HEAVEN 77 • BUT TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • TO WALK WITH, TO ABIDE IN CHRIST • WE MUST BE FORGIVEN FOR OUR DAILY SINS • AND TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO CONFESS THEM • ADMIT THAT GOD IS RIGHT AND THAT WE HAVE SINNED • THIS IS A HARD THING TO DO • MOST OF US DON’T REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT OUR SINS • WE WOULD RATHER JUST ACT LIKE THEY DID NOT HAPPEN AND KEEP GOING 78 79 • MAKING A PRACTICE OF SPENDING A FEW MINUTES EACH DAY • TALKING WITH GOD ABOUT OUR SINS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA • TRUST ME THE MORE WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT THEM 80 • THE EASIER IT BECOMES TO STOP DOING THEM • THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS STOP 81 CLAIMING TO HAVE NEVER SINNED • JOHN TELLS HIS AUDIENCE • IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US. • IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTICE THE INCREASE IN JOHNS INTENSITY 82 • FIRST HE SAID WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH • THEN HE SAID WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US • AND HERE HE SAYS WE ARE MAKING GOD A LIAR AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US 83 • JOHN IS COMMUNICATING AN VITAL CONCEPT ABOUT FALSE TEACHING • THE FARTHER ALONG YOU FOLLOW FALSE TEACHING • THE WORSE IT MAKES IT • DIPPING YOUR TOE IN THE FALSE TEACHING 84 • IS LYING AND NOT PRACTICING TRUTH • GETTING IN THE FALSE TEACHING UP TO YOUR KNEES • IS DECEIVING YOUR SELF AND THERE IS NO TRUTH IN YOU • WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FALSE TEACHING UP TO YOUR NECK 85 • YOU HAVE NOW MADE GOD OUT TO BE A LIAR AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN YOU • SO HOW DID THE FALSE TEACHERS MAKE GOD OUT TO BE A LIAR? • WELL, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO SIN IN THEM • BUT GOD HAS SAID ALL THROUGHOUT HIS WORD THAT ALL MEN SIN 86 ROMANS 3:23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, 87 ECCLESIASTES 7:20 INDEED, THERE IS NOT A RIGHTEOUS MAN ON EARTH WHO CONTINUALLY DOES GOOD AND WHO NEVER SINS. ISAIAH 53:6 88 ALL OF US LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY, EACH OF US HAS TURNED TO HIS OWN WAY; BUT THE LORD HAS CAUSED THE INIQUITY OF US ALL TO FALL ON HIM. 89 • TO SAY YOU HAVE NEVER SINNED IT TO MAKE GOD OUT TO BE A LIAR • TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD REQUIRES • THAT WE ALLOW THE LIGHT OF GOD TO REVEAL OUR SINS • THAT WE ADMIT OUR SINS AND CONFESS THEM BEFORE GOD 90 • SO THAT HE WILL FORGIVE OUR DAILY SINS • AND CLEANSE US FROM UNRIGHTEOUSNESS • SEE THE FALSE TEACHERS THOUGHT • THEY COULD HANDLE THEIR SINS THEMSELVES • THAT BY SOME SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE THEY COULD CLEANSE THEMSELVES • AND MAKE THEMSELVES RIGHTEOUS • BUT JOHN MAKES IT CLEAR TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • WE MUST TAKE OUR SINS TO HIM • ONLY GOD CAN TAKE CARE OF SIN 91 92 THERE WAS A SIGN HANGING IN A TEXTILE MILL • "WHEN YOUR THREAD BECOMES TANGLED, CALL THE FOREMAN” • A YOUNG WOMAN WAS NEW ON THE JOB • HER THREAD BECAME TANGLED AND SHE THOUGHT 93 • "I'LL JUST STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT MYSELF" • SHE TRIED, BUT THE SITUATION ONLY WORSENED • FINALLY SHE CALLED THE FOREMAN • "I DID THE BEST I COULD," SHE SAID 94 • "NO YOU DIDN'T. TO DO THE BEST, YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME” • SOMETIMES WE THINK WE DON’T NEED HELP • WE WANT TO DO THINGS ON OUR OWN • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIN 95 • IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DEAL WITH OWN OUR OWN • AS SOON AS WE GET TANGLED IN SIN • WE NEED TO CALL THE FOREMAN, GOD • THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO • IS TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT OUR SINS ON OUR OWN 96 GOD OFFERS US SALVATION • BY FAITH IN CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS • HE ALSO OFFERS US FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • AS WE WALK IN THIS WORLD 97 • SALVATION ONLY HAS ONE REQUIREMENT • TRUST, FAITH, BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST • FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IN THIS LIFE • REQUIRES MORE THAN FAITH IN CHRIST 98 • JOHN HAS JUST TOLD US ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS • FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT REVEAL OUR SINS • IF WE WALK IN THE DARKNESS WE ARE NOT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 99 • WE MUST NOT DECEIVE OUR SELVES BY SAYING WE HAVE NO SIN • WE MUST CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • THIS IS ALL ONE REQUIREMENT, ALLOW GOD TO REVEAL OUR SINS 10 0 • THIS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTING US WHEN WE SIN • ADMITTING WE SIN, AND CONFESSING OUR SINS TO GOD • THESE ALL GO TOGETHER, THEY ARE PART OF OUR WALKING WITH GOD 10 1 • PART OF BEING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, THEY ARE REQUIRED • WE CAN ONLY ENTER INTO THE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO HAS NOT TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST… 102