Free to Not Sin
Notes
Transcript
1
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO
WOULD GO SWIMMING
• IN THE AMAZON NEAR A SCHOOL
OF PIRANHAS.
• I MEAN, SOME THINGS MAKE NO
SENSE AT ALL.
• LIKE LIGHTING A MATCH TO SEE IF
YOUR GAS TANK IS EMPTY.
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• OR PETTING A RHINO TO SEE IF HE'S
TAME.
• AND YET THERE ARE CHRISTIANS
RUNNING LOOSE TODAY
• WHO FLIRT WITH RISKS FAR
GREATER THAN ANY OF THE ABOVE.
• AND THEY DO SO WITH SUCH CALM
FACES
4
• YOU'D SWEAR THEY HAD ICE WATER
IN THEIR VEINS.
• YOU'D NEVER GUESS THEY ARE
BALANCING
• ON A TIGHT ROPE OF DISASTER
WITHOUT A NET.
• WHO ARE THEY? THEY ARE THE
CHRISTIANS WHO FLIRT WITH SIN,
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• GETTING AS CLOSE TO IT AS THEY
THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH.
• LIVING RIGHT NEAR SIN HANGIN
OUT WITH SIN,
• CONCRETE EXAMPLES
• THEY KNOW JESUS, THEY ARE
GOIN TO HEAVEN,
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• THEY EVEN GO TO CHURCH, READ
THEIR BIBLE, PRAY.
• THEY JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE
• OF LIVING LIKE GOD WANTS US TO
LIVE.
• IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IT IS VITAL
THAT WE UNDERSTAND
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• GOD WANTS TO LIVE ACCORDING TO
HIS WORD
• WE NEED TO KNOW THIS MEANS
STRIVING TO NOT SIN
• AND BEING CERTIAN OF OUR
POSITION AS CHILDREN OF GOD
• IT MEANS LOVING, ONE ANOTHER
JUST AS CHRIST LOVED US.
8
• TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
HOW
• JOHN EXPLAINS THESE VITAL
THINGS TO HIS READERS
• IN THE BOOK OF 1ST JOHN
• TURN TO 1 JOHN 2:1
• JOHN HAD JUST TOLD HIS READERS
• THAT ANYONE WHO SAYS HE
DOES NOT SIN
• IS CALLING GOD A LIAR
• AND DOES NOT HAVE THE
TRUTH IN HIM
• HE TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY
CONFESS THEIR SINS
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• THAT GOD WILL FORGIVE THEIR
SINS AND
• CLEANSE THEM FROM ALL
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
• NOW HE WILL EXPLAIN TO THEM
THAT THE FACT THAT GOD WILL
FORGIVE OUR SINS
• IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO GO SIN
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1 JOHN 2:1–2
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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;
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AND HE HIMSELF IS THE
PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS;
AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY,
BUT ALSO FOR THOSE OF THE
WHOLE WORLD.
WE SHOULD SIN LESS
• JUST BECAUSE OUR SINS ARE
FORGIVEN AND CLEANSED
• WHEN WE CONFESS THEM
• DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD
GO AROUND SINNING
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• MY LITTLE CHILDREN, I AM WRITING
THESE THINGS TO YOU SO THAT YOU
MAY NOT SIN.
• WE NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO
JOHN’S WORDS
• JOHN DID NOT SAY SO THAT YOU WILL
NOT SIN
• JOHN DID NOT SAY SO THAT YOU MAY
NEVER SIN
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• HE SAID SO THAT YOU MAY NOT
SIN
• THIS MEANS WE HAVE A CHOICE,
• TO CHOOSE TO NOT SIN ANY
GIVEN SIN
• IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION
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• BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT
CHOICE WE HAVE TO
• UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN
THOUGH OUR SINS ARE
FORGIVEN
• WHEN WE CONFESS THEM, EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE CLEANSED
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• OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
WHEN WE CONFESS
• WE ARE CALLED NOT TO BE
SINLESS, BUT TO SIN LESS
• IT MIGHT HELP US TO SIN LESS IF
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL
ALL SIN MUST BE JUDGED
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• SEE, EVERY SIN MUST COME
BEFORE GOD
• YES, CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS
TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
• AND THE ETERNAL DEBT OF A
CHRISTIAN
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• HAS MOST CERTAINLY BEEN PAID
• BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN OUR
SINS DO NOT COME BEFORE GOD
• AND IF ANYONE SINS, WE HAVE AN
ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS
CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS;
• THIS MEANS OUR SINS COME
BEFORE THE FATHER AND
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• JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS
STANDS UP FOR US
• HE IS OUR DEFENSE ATTORNEY
• WELL REALLY THIS WORD ADVOCATE
MEANS MORE
• THAN JUST DEFENSE ATTORNEY
• ADVOCATE IS THE SAME WORD USED
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• JESUS SERVES AS OUR HELPER
• WHEN OUR SINS COME BEFORE
THE FATHER
• JOHN DID NOT WANT HIS
READERS TO SIN,
• BUT HE KNEW THAT NONE OF
THEM WAS PERFECT
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• AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED
THE HELP OF THEIR ADVOCATE
JESUS CHRIST
• HE CAN BE OUR ADVOCATE OUR
HELPER BECAUSE HE IS
RIGHTEOUS
• WITHOUT SIN AND BECAUSE
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OUR SIN HAS BEEN PAID FOR
• TO SIN IS TO THINK, SAY, OR DO
SOMETHING
• THAT GOES AGAINST GOD’S WILL
• BECAUSE OF THIS EVERY SIN IS
AN AFFRONT TO GOD’S GLORY
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• A PENALTY MUST BE PAID FOR EVERY
SIN
• AND JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS
HAS ALREADY PAID THE PENALTY
• FOR THE SINS OF EVERYONE WHO
TRUSTS IN HIM AS THEIR SAVIOR
• AND HE HIMSELF IS THE
PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS;
• PROPITIATION MEANS THAT
WHAT GOD DEMANDED
• AS THE PENALTY FOR SIN HAD
BEEN SATISFIED
• CHRIST’S DEATH ON THE CROSS
• SATISFIED GOD’S WRATH
AGAINST SIN
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• AND WHEN JOHN SAYS;
• AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY, BUT
ALSO FOR THOSE OF THE WHOLE
WORLD.
• HE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
WHOLE WORLD
• IS SAVED AND GOIN TO HEAVEN
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• HE MEANS THAT ANYONE IN THE
ENTIRE WORLD
• WHO TRUSTS IN JESUS CHRIST
AS THEIR SAVOIR
• WILL HAVE THEIR SIN DEBT
SATISFIED AS WELL
• JOHN WANTS HIS READERS TO
KNOW THEIR SINS ARE
FORGIVEN
• AND CLEANSED, THAT THE SIN
DEBT IS PAID FOR
• AND CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO
DID ALL THAT FOR THEM
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ONE DAY SATAN AND JESUS
WERE TALKIN
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• SATAN HAD JUST COME FROM THE
GARDEN OF EDEN,
• AND HE WAS GLOATING AND
BOASTING.
• "YES, SIR, I JUST CAUGHT THE WORLD
FULL OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
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• SET ME A TRAP USED BAIT I KNEW
THEY COULDN'T RESIST.
• GOT 'EM ALL!" "WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO WITH THEM?" JESUS
ASKED.
• "OH, I'M GONNA HAVE FUN!
• I'M GONNA TEACH THEM HOW TO
MARRY AND DIVORCE EACH OTHER.
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• HOW TO HATE AND ABUSE EACH
OTHER.
• HOW TO DRINK AND SMOKE
AND CURSE.
• HOW TO INVENT GUNS AND
BOMBS AND KILL EACH OTHER.
• I'M REALLY GONNA HAVE FUN!"
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• "AND WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU
GET DONE WITH THEM?" JESUS ASKED.
• "OH, I'LL KILL 'EM.""HOW MUCH DO
YOU WANT FOR THEM?"
• "OH, YOU DON'T WANT THOSE
PEOPLE. THEY AIN'T NO GOOD.
• WHY, YOU'LL TAKE THEM AND THEY'LL
JUST HATE YOU.
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• THEY'LL SPIT ON YOU, CURSE YOU
AND KILL YOU!!
• YOU DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE!!"
• "HOW MUCH?" SATAN LOOKED AT
JESUS AND SNEERED,
• "ALL YOUR TEARS, AND ALL YOUR
BLOOD."
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• SO JESUS PAID THE PRICE
• JESUS IS OUR ADVOCATE BEFORE
THE FATHER
• THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSES
US FROM ALL SIN
• AND YET JOHN IS TELLING US
THESE THINGS NOT
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• SO THAT WE WILL FEEL LIKE WE
SHOULD GO OUT AND SIN
• HE IS TELLING US THESE THINGS SO
THAT WE MAY NOT SIN
• WE MUST NEVER USE FORGIVENESS
AS AN EXCUSE TO SIN
• WE MUST NEVER USE CHRIST’S
PAYMENT AS AN EXCUSE TO SIN
• THE FACT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN
OF GOD
• THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN
ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER
• THE FACT THAT OUR ETERNAL
DESTINY IS CERTAIN
• SHOULD NEVER BE AN EXCUSE TO
SIN
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• THESE THINGS SHOULD BE THE
REASON WE STRIVE
• WE PUT FORTH EFFORT TO SIN
LESS
• WE SHOULD SIN LESS AND LESS
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• OUT OF THANKS AND
GRATITUDE FOR ALL THESE
THINGS
• WE SHOULD SIN LESS AND LESS
• BECAUSE WE ARE IN FELLOW
SHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
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1 JOHN 2:3–11
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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;
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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.
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BELOVED, I AM NOT WRITING A
NEW COMMANDMENT TO YOU,
BUT AN OLD COMMANDMENT
WHICH YOU HAVE HAD FROM
THE BEGINNING; THE OLD
COMMANDMENT IS THE WORD
WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD.
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ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM
WRITING A NEW
COMMANDMENT TO YOU,
WHICH IS TRUE IN HIM AND IN
YOU, BECAUSE THE DARKNESS IS
PASSING AWAY AND THE TRUE
LIGHT IS ALREADY SHINING.
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• THE ONE WHO SAYS HE IS IN THE
LIGHT AND YET HATES HIS
BROTHER IS IN THE DARKNESS
UNTIL NOW. THE ONE WHO
LOVES HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN
THE LIGHT AND THERE IS NO
CAUSE FOR STUMBLING IN HIM.
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BUT THE ONE WHO 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.
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KEEP WHAT CHRIST COMMANDED
• KEEPING CHRIST’S COMMANDS IS AN
INDICATION OF FELLOWSHIP WITH
HIM
• AS WE GO THROUGH THIS LETTER
WE ARE GOING
• TO SEE JUST HOW IMPORTANT
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST IS (PAUSE)
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• THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE CLAIMING
TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• AND YET THEY WERE WALKING IN
DARKNESS AND SIN
• 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;
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• THEY ALSO SAID “IF YOU DON’T DO
WHAT WE SAY
• YOU ARE NOT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH
GOD”
• JOHN TELLS HIS READERS
• BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
COME TO KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP
HIS COMMANDMENTS.
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• JOHN WANTS THEM TO KNOW THEY
DO NOT NEED
• TO DO THE THINGS THE FALSE
TEACHERS ARE TEACHING
• THEY CAN BE CERTAIN OF THEIR
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• IF THEY ARE KEEPING WHAT CHRIST
COMMANDED
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• SO, WHAT COMMANDS IS JOHN
TALKING ABOUT HERE?
• SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY THAT
JOHN
• MEANS ALL OF GOD’S
COMMANDS THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE BIBLE
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• BUT WE KNOW WE CAN’T KEEP ALL
THOSE
• IF WE COULD KEEP ALL THOSE THEN
• JESUS WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED
TO DIE ON THE CROSS
• I THINK JOHN MAKES IT PRETTY
CLEAR WHICH COMMANDS HE
MEANS
1 JOHN 3:23
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THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT,
THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE NAME
OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND
LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS
HE COMMANDED US.
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• I THINK WE CAN BE CERTAIN HE
DID NOT MEAN THE LAW OF
MOSES
ROMANS 6:14
FOR SIN SHALL NOT BE MASTER
OVER YOU, FOR YOU ARE NOT
UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE.
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• SO IF WE ARE TO KEEP THE
COMMANDMENT
• TO TRUST IN THE NAME OF
JESUS AND TO LOVE ONE
ANOTHER
• IT BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE
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• UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP
A COMMAND
• SEE, JOHN DID NOT SAY OBEY, HE DID
NOT SAY FOLLOW
• HE SAID: WE HAVE COME TO KNOW
HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
• NOW PART OF KEEPING SOMETHING IS
OBEYING
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• BUT THERE IS MORE TO KEEPING
THAN JUST OBEYING
• KEEPING MEANS TO WATCH OVER IT,
TO PROTECT IT, TO GUARD IT
• IT ALSO HAS THE IDEA OF
CHERISHING SOMETHING
• OF CONSIDERING SOMETHING
PRECIOUS
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• WE OBEY SOMETHING WE KEEP BECAUSE
WE CHERISH IT
• BECAUSE IT IS PRECIOUS TO US
• AND IF WE DO THAT WITH CHRIST’S
COMMANDS
• THEN WE CAN KNOW WE ARE IN
FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM
• THE POINT OF THIS VERSE IS NOT SO
THAT
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• WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE
AND SAY THEY
• ARE NOT IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT KEEPING
CHRIST’S COMMANDS
• THE POINT OF THE VERSE IS THAT IF
WE LOVE AND HOLD DEAR
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• CHRIST’S COMMAND TO LOVE
GOD AND LOVE EACH OTHER
• THEN WE CAN BE CERTAIN WE
ARE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
• TO MAKE SURE HIS READERS
UNDERSTOOD THIS JOHN REPEATS
• THE IDEA BY TELLING THEM TO
WALK AS CHRIST WALKED
• SINCE WE ARE IN FELLOWSHIP
WITH CHRIST
• WE SHOULD DO THINGS THE
WAY HE DID THEM.
• JOHN WORDS IT THIS WAY;
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• 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.
• TO WALK AS CHRIST WALKED IS TO
KEEP HIS COMMANDS
• BY WALKING, LIVING, AS CHRIST
WALKED
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• NOTICE HOW IT SAYS OUGHT TO
WALK AS HE WALKED
• IT DOES NOT SAY MUST, OR HAS TO,
• WE SHOULD LIVE AS CHRIST DID,
LOVING
• CARING FOR OTHERS, FORGIVING
OTHERS
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• AND IF WE DO WHAT WE SHOULD
DO
• WE CAN KNOW WE ARE IN
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
• THEN JOHN GETS SPECIFIC, HE TELLS
THEM PART OF
• WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK LIKE JESUS
• IT MEANS WE NEED TO
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LOVE LIKE CHRIST LOVED
• LOVING YOUR BROTHER IS NOT A
NEW CONCEPT,
• THAT IS WHY JOHN SAYS
• BELOVED, I AM NOT WRITING A NEW
COMMANDMENT TO YOU, BUT AN
OLD COMMANDMENT WHICH YOU
HAVE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING;
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• BUT CHRIST MADE IT A SPECIFIC
COMMAND
• AND REALLY BRINGS THIS
CONCEPT OF LOVING EACH
OTHER
• TO THE FORE FRONT WHEN HE
TELLS THE APOSTLES
JOHN 13:34
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“A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE
TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE
ANOTHER, EVEN AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
• SO JOHN SAYS
• ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM
WRITING A NEW
COMMANDMENT TO YOU,
WHICH IS TRUE IN HIM AND IN
YOU,
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• THEN JOHN EXPLAINS THIS IDEA OF
THIS COMMANDMENT
• THE ONE WHO SAYS HE IS IN THE
LIGHT AND YET HATES HIS BROTHER
IS IN THE DARKNESS UNTIL NOW.
THE ONE WHO LOVES HIS BROTHER
ABIDES IN THE LIGHT AND THERE IS
NO CAUSE FOR STUMBLING IN HIM.
• BUT THE ONE WHO 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.
• IF WE ARE GONNA WALK LIKE JESUS
• IF WE ARE GONNA KEEP HIS
COMMANDS
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• WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LOVE
ONE ANOTHER
• AND ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY
ARE WALKING RIGHT
• AND DOES NOT LOVE OTHERS IS
GONNA MESS UP ALL KINDA
STUFF
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• HE IS NOT JUST GONNA MESS UP
LOVING OTHERS
• HE IS LIVING IN THE DARKNESS AND
IS GONNA
• STUMBLE CAUSE HE CANNOT SEE
WHERE HE IS GOING
• BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AND
CONFESS OUR SINS
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• IF WE KEEP AND CHERISH HIS
COMMANDS
• IF WE WALK LIKE CHRIST WALKED
• AND LOVE, FORGIVE, CARE FOR
ONE ANOTHER
• WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT WE
HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
1 JOHN 2:12–14
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I AM WRITING TO YOU, LITTLE
CHILDREN, BECAUSE YOUR SINS
HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN YOU FOR HIS
NAME’S SAKE. I AM WRITING TO
YOU, FATHERS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW
HIM WHO HAS BEEN FROM THE
BEGINNING.
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I AM WRITING TO YOU, YOUNG
MEN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE
OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE. I HAVE
WRITTEN TO YOU, CHILDREN,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE FATHER.
I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, FATHERS,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIM WHO
HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING.
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I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, YOUNG
MEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE
STRONG, AND THE WORD OF
GOD ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU
HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE.
KNOW OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN
• JOHN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
CERTAINTY OF FELLOWSHIP
• BUT NOW HE WILL TALK ABOUT
ASSURANCE
• KNOWING YOU ARE IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
SALVATION
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• HE IS TELLING THEM WHY HE IS WRITING
THEM
• AND HIS REASONS ARE ALL ABOUT THEIR
ASSURANCE
• HE SAYS’
• I AM WRITING TO YOU, LITTLE CHILDREN,
BECAUSE YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN YOU FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
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• HE IS WRITING TO THEM
BECAUSE THEY CAN BE ASSURED
• OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD, THEIR SALVATION, SINCE
THEIR SINS HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN FOR HIS NAME
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• JOHN WANTS THEM TO HAVE THIS
ASSURANCE SO THAT
• THEY WILL NOT FOLLOW THE FALSE
TEACHERS
• HE GIVES US ANOTHER REASON WE
CAN
• HAVE ASSURANCE WHEN HE TELL
US WE CAN
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• KNOW THAT WE HAVE OVERCOME
• JOHN ACTUALLY MENTIONS THAT
• THEY HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE
TWICE
• ONCE IN VERSE 13 AND AGAIN IN
VERSE 14
• ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE OVERCOME
THE EVIL ONE
• BY PLACING THEIR FAITH IN
CHRIST’S WORK AT THE CROSS
• JOHN MAKES THIS CLEAR LATER
IN THIS SAME BOOK WHEN HE
WRITES
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1 JOHN 5:4
FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD
OVERCOMES THE WORLD; AND
THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS
OVERCOME THE WORLD—OUR
FAITH.
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• KNOWING WE HAVE OVERCOME
THE EVIL ONE BY OUR FAITH IN
CHRIST
• SHOULD HELP OUR ASSURANCE
OF OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• WE SO SHOULD
KNOW GOD’S WORD ABIDES IN
US
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• IN BETWEEN THE STATEMENTS ABOUT
OVERCOMING THE EVIL ONE
• JOHN TELLS HIS READERS HE HAS
WRITTEN TO THEM
• BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG, AND THE
WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU,
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• SOME FOLKS THINK JOHN IS
TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT LEVELS
• OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY, NEW
CHRISTIANS,
• THOSE IN THE PRIME OF THEIR
MINISTRY AND THE OLDER
CHRISTIAN
• OTHERS THINK IT IS ABOUT ACTUAL
AGE, YOUNG, ADULT, AND OLD
• EITHER OF THOSE MIGHT BE
POSSIBLE
• I DON’T THINK HE IS TALKING TO
THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS
• I THINK HE IS USING THESE TERMS
TO MEAN EVERYONE
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• HE IS TALKING TO ALL OF THEM, THE
CHILDREN, THE ADULTS AND THE
ELDERLY
• ALL OF THEM, AS BELIEVERS, HAD
DONE ALL THE THINGS MENTIONED
• THEIR SINS HAD BEEN FORGIVEN
• THEY HAD KNOWN CHRIST AS
SAVOIR
• THEY HAD OVERCOME THE EVIL
ONE BY TRUSTING IN CHRIST
• AND THE WORD OF GOD WAS
ABIDING IN THEM
• JOHN IS EXPLAINING TO THEM
WHY THEY HAVE ASSURANCE
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• THAT THEY ARE IN FELLOWSHIP
WITH GOD
• SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERY
CHALLENGING
• FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ASSURANCE
OF THEIR POSITION IN CHRIST
• WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH JUST HOW
SECURE AND SAFE WE REALLY ARE
IMAGINE A BUTTERFLY
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• FLYING BACK AND FORTH INSIDE
THE WINDOW PANE
• HE IS TERRIFIED BECAUSE RIGHT
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW
• IS A SPARROW PECKING AND
TRYING TO GET IN TO EAT HIM.
• THE BUTTERFLY DOES NOT SEE THE
GLASS,
• AND EXPECTS ANY MINUTE TO BE
CAUGHT AND EATEN
• AND THE SPARROW DOES NOT SEE
THE GLASS
• AND EXPECTS ANY MINUTE TO GET
THE BUTTERFLY.
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• YET ALL THE WHILE THAT BUTTERFLY WAS AS
SAFE
• AS IF IT HAD BEEN MILLIONS OF MILES AWAY,
• BECAUSE OF THE GLASS BETWEEN IT AND
THE SPARROW.
• SO IT IS WITH A CHRISTIAN. SATAN CANNOT
TOUCH US
• BECAUSE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
BETWEEN US AND HIM.
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• WE ARE UTTERLY SECURE AND SAFE
IN CHRIST
• THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD
GO
• SWIMMING WITH PIRANHAS OR
PETTING RHINO’S
• IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT MEAN WE
SHOULD GO
• MESSIN AROUND WITH SIN
• AS A MATTER OF FACT OUR
POSITION IN CHRIST
• OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• IS WHY WE NEED TO RESIST SIN
• ADMIT OUR SIN, CONFESS OUR
SIN
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• YES OUR SINS HAVE ALL BEEN PAID
FOR
• BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE
SHOULD NOT
• STRIVE TO KEEP CHRIST’S
COMMANDS
• AND KEEP MEANS MORE THEN JUST
FOLLOW
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• KEEP MEANS LOVE HIS COMMANDS,
CHERISH THEM
• HOLD THEM DEAR, PROTECT THEM,
GUARD THEM
• WHEN WE KEEP HIS COMMANDS
WE WILL LIVE LIKE HE LIVED
• LOVING, FORGIVING, SERVING ONE
ANOTHER
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• THEN WE CAN BE ASSURED OF
OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• THIS ALL BEGINS WHEN WE
OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE
• BY PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS
CHRIST AS OUR PERSONAL SAVOIR
• IF THERE IS ANYONE….
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