Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

3rd test: Test of Belief

Do you believe the truth about Jesus?

- Who do you say that I am?

There are all kinds of ideas and views about Jesus, but we must all agree that there is 1 truth we are all looking for.

John wants us to be discerning in our faith.

A World of Confusion

What does the word “Discernment” mean to you?

Dictionary definition: the ability to judge well.

It is the ability to judge the genuineness and/or truthfulness of something.

It is vital to seek in an age where we are overrun with ideas, theories, and information.

Some information isn’t too hard to process, as in this article I read this week.

The Rev. Gretta Vosper hadn’t noticed the giant industrial metal cross rising in front of her church for years, hidden as it was by a bushy tree.

But then someone complained about it.

The Rev. Gretta Vosper hadn’t noticed the giant industrial metal cross rising in front of her church for years, hidden as it was by a bushy tree.

But then someone complained about it.

Since Ms. Vosper does not believe Jesus was the son of God, the complainer wrote in an email, she should take the cross down.

“The next day, a storm took the tree out,” she said, peering up at the cross with a benign smile.

Some Christians might call that an act of God.

But Ms. Vosper does not believe in God either.

Instead, the parable says more about her determination.

Despite being an outspoken atheist, Ms. Vosper has steadfastly maintained her place in the United Church of Canada, which with two million followers across the country is Canada’s pre-eminent Protestant church.

“This is my church,” said Ms. Vosper, 60. “The United Church made me who I am.”

It isn’t hard to judge the ridiculousness of this story.

Paul himself says that if Jesus Christ wasn’t raise we should be pitied more than anyone.

But there are other ideas that are harder to discern the truth of.

Paul is confronting a false teaching called Gnosticism, which considered the physical word to be broken and the pursuit of a “saving” wisdom as the main thrust of life.

They didn’t believe Jesus actually became a man, but remained an untainted spiritual being.

It was an attractive idea that led many Christians away from orthodox faith.

John is called these believers to have a discerning faith.

Becoming a Discerning Christian

1) Discerning Christians are not surprised.

(2:18; 4:1b)

We have to realize that the world we live in is full of blatant lies, partial truths, and truths mixed with lies; and we must learn to recognize when we encounter untruths.

1 jn 2 18-19

There are 2 confusing terms here that you must avoid getting stuck in

Last hour- John was in the last hour and 2000 years later we are in the last hour.

This is not a reference to the “end of time” but a reference to the fact that when Christ returns it will be for the consummation of all things.

Until Christ’s return, we are in the “last hour” and certain indicators point to this being the last hour.

One of the indicators is antichrists are coming and have come.

Antichrists- “anti” means against so it is the ones whom are against Christ.

Neither Oprah nor Obama are “the” Antichrist.

Sorry to burst that bubble.

John is the only NT writer that uses the term and he has in mind the false teachers who are confusing the believers he is writing too.

According to John, an antichrist is

1 jn 2

The one who denies Jesus and the Father is an antichrist.

Oprah and Obama might be antichrists, as well as some in this very room.

John is saying that because we are in the last hour we have to realize the world we live in is full of confusion and falsehood.

Every day we are bombarded with advertisements, ideas, worldviews, and truth claims that are designed to sale us a product or convince something is reality.

These are so common to us that we don’t even consider the fact that a great amount of what we hear and experience is selling us something

Much of the confusion we struggle with today (and sadly have succumbed to) sounds like it could be and maybe even partially true, but it leads us down a path of lies and away from the Lord.

When we realize and accept the reality of

It robs us of the joy of knowing and following Jesus as we embrace untruths and pursue things that leave us empty and lost.

“Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis is an example of this:

Hollis confesses to be a Christian, the book was published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publishing company.

It is littered bible passages and statements about God.

Thousands and thousands of Christian and non-Christian women have read the book, to a point where it has reached the best seller list.

Many women feel like the book has changed their lives, and it very well may have in some temporal way, but mixed in with the bible passages, references to God, and pseudo-christian ideas are lies that rob those same women of their potential joy in Christ.

One author wrote a critique of “Girl, Wash Your Face” in which she pointed out the 5 lies Rachel Hollis believes in the book.

She writes:

Reading Girl, Wash Your Face exhausted me.

It’s all about what I can be doing better and what I’m not doing well enough.

How to be better at work, parenting, and writing.

How to be less bad at cardio, sex, and, you know, changing the world.

But grasping the good news of who I am in Christ—and nothing else—is what brings true rest.

So rest from striving, my friend.

Yes, wash your face.

Take care of yourself.

Make good choices.

But know who you are in Christ Jesus.

If you let this truth become the foundation of how you see the world, you’ll be content to glorify him in every situation—whether cleaning bathrooms or relaxing at your beach home, changing diapers or crushing your career goals.

“Girl, Wash Your Face” is a great example of what John says in 2:19:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us...”

The lies we often believe aren’t too far removed from the truth.

If we are to navigate the confusing world we live in we must first recognize and admit that it full of falsehood that we easily fall victim to.

2) Discerning Christians recognize falsehood.

(2:19, 22-23; 4:3a)

1 jn 20-21

1 jn 2 20-

1 jn 1 24

2:22-23 and 4:3s defines who the antichrists were:

The falsehood is rooted in the question: Who is Jesus?

“he who denies that Jesus is the Christ...”

The false teachers were denying that Jesus was

“He who denies the father and the son...”

“Does not confess that Jesus Christ is not from God...”

If they do not confess Jesus as the promised Messiah, born of a virgin, God become flesh, who lived a perfect life, died on the cross for the sins of those who trust in Him, and who was raised from the dead in order to conquer sin and death, then they are liars.

Whenever the person and work of Jesus is changed the Gospel message is lost.

“Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis is an example of this:

Hollis confesses to be a Christian, the book was published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publishing company.

It is littered bible passages and statements about God.

Thousands and thousands of Christian and non-Christian women have read the book, to a point where it has reached the best seller list.

Many women feel like the book has changed their lives, and it very well may have in some temporal way, but mixed in with the bible passages, references to God, and pseudo-christian ideas are lies that rob those same women of their potential joy in Christ.

Hollis makes statements like this:

“You are meant to be the hero of your own story.”

“You are meant to be the hero of your own story.”

“You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.”

“You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.”

“You should be the very first of your priorities.”