The Relational components of Blessed Assurance (Part 1)

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. 13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. 14 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

A- Our relationship with God is personal.

1- Notice the occurrences of the key phrases,

“you know Christ.” ()

1 John 2:13 NLT

“you know the Father.” ()

you know Christ.”

(),

1 John 2:14 NLT

14 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

you know Christ

“You know Christ.” ()

you know the Father”

“you know the Father”

1 John 2:14 NLT

B- Our relationship with God is relational.

1- We are “God’s children.” (,)

1 John 2:12 NLT

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

1 John 2:14 NLT

a- The basis of this relationship is the forgiveness we have received through Christ. ()

1 John 2:12 NLT

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

C- Our relationship with God is incarnational.

1- The word of God has been fleshed-out in our lives. ()

1 John 2:14 NLT

2- The result is that we have grown “strong” and “won our battle with the evil one.”

D- Our relationship with God is Growing. ()

1 John 2:13–14 NLT

13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. 14 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

1- Some are “young in the faith.”

2- Some are “mature in the faith.”

II- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER ()

A. Our relationship with each other is couched in the old commands of God.()

( Ἀγαπητοί, οὐκ ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφω ὑμῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐντολὴν παλαιάν, ἣν εἴχετε ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ παλαιά ἐστιν ὁ λόγος ὃν ἠκούσατε.)

7 Ἀγαπητοί, οὐκ ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφω ὑμῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐντολὴν παλαιάν, ἣν εἴχετε ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ παλαιά ἐστιν ὁ λόγος ὃν ἠκούσατε.

1 John 2:7 NLT

7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.

The command to love each other is not new.

2. The Old Testament law aimed at demonstrating love.

*Fulfilled what was required for salvation

When asked to summarize the most important of the commands, Jesus said the following:

()

II – Do Follow the New Commandment Given by God. ()

Matthew 22:36–40 NLT

36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

B- Our relationship with each other is expanded in new ways with greater depth by Jesus. ()

B. The new commandment is the basis of all else. ()

James 2:8 NLT

8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 John 2:8 NLT

8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

()

1. The Law of Love (; )

James 2:8 NLT

8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8 NLT

8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:38–39 NLT

38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Mark 12:29–31 NLT

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

a– Love of God

b– Love of Others

(See )

2- This love is empowered by the Holy Spirit. ()

Romans 5:5 NLT

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

a- He enables us to really love.

C- – Our relationship with each other is the Acid-Test of Discipleship. (; )

1 John 2:9–11 NLT

9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

John 13:35 NLT

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

1. The Defining Principle ()

1 John 2:9–10 NLT

a- If you hate your brother or sister you are walking in darkness.

1) Hates=

2) Darkness=

3) Blind (vs. 11)=

b- If you love your brother and sister, you are walking in the light.

living in light

does not cause others to stumble

2- The Definite Advantage of Walking in the Light ()

1 John 2:11 NLT

11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

1 John 2:10–11 NLT

10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

a- You can see where you’re going.

b- You will not cause others to stumble.

CONCLUSION:

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