LETTER FOR SECURITY

BACK TO THE BASICS: AN EXPOSITION OF 1 JOHN

We begin a new chapter in the letter of 1 John. As I have mentioned, John is writing this letter to ensure believers know and live truth. The Scriptures always connect doctrine (what we believe) to life (what we think, say, and do).

This next section of John is what I have called “Letters to Little Children.” That is because in verse 1, 12, 13, and 18 John describes his readers as “little children.” Like a parent writing a letter to his or her child, the aged Apostle John is writing letters to his spiritual children.

We write letters for a variety of reasons. Most people write love letters, letters written to their significant other, detailing future plans and goals, aspects of which they love, and all sorts of mushy stuff. We also write letters to update people. Though we predominantly call, text, or email now, we used to communicate through letters. For instance, it could take up to 14 days for a letter to go from Philadelphia to New York in the 1800s. And it could take months to cross the Atlantic. Imagine having a child serve on the mission field and waiting months before hearing how they were doing.

Letters are also keepsakes. We value the messages friends and loved ones wrote to us. We look over them and enjoy the fond memories they bring.

In a similar way, John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote letters to believers. We have already noted that John desired to help get believers back to the basics, to solidify core doctrines to which all believers must hold. But in chapter 2, John writes a variety of “letters,” if you will, encouraging believers.

This morning’s letter focuses on security. Now, we have just considered fellowship in chapter one. We looked at fellowship with the Godhead, and how our fellowship with each other and God is dependent upon the advent of Jesus. We saw also that fellowship has a hurdle: sin. It is as if John anticipates the question, “What if we sin?” in response to his statements in 1:9-10.

Brothers and sisters, we have security. This security means that we do not have to worry and fret over our fellowship with the Godhead. While we will see that the battle with sin is long from being over, we will see that there is no cause to disparage our relationship with the Triune God.

In this Letter for Security, we see two tool that can help us rest easy. The first tool is Security in Christ. This is such a glorious truth! We have an Advocate for when we sin. The second tool is Security in Obedience. Our lives help us know whether we truly love God, providing security or fear.

I. SECURITY IN CHRIST- vss. 1-2

The first tool in providing security is found in Jesus Christ. He is the central figure in the Bible. The Old Testament points forward to Him, the Gospels display Him, and epistles look back to Him, and the Revelation anticipates His return. The Bible is all about Jesus.

In John’s letter for security, he continues his thoughts on sin and the believer by providing security to those who sin. We are going to break this down into three separate points that I believe will help us not only understand this section better, but also provide practical benefits to our daily lives.

A. The nature of the believer’s victory- vs. 1

The nature of the believer’s victory is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We are dealing with security in Christ, and it is founded upon, built in, and dependent upon Jesus. The nature of our victory is that we are saved from the power of sin. Sin, like an overlord, had complete power over us prior to God saving us. However, when the grace of God shined through into our hearts and gave us new life, that wicked overlord of sin’s power was destroyed.

As believers, we are saved from the power of sin, but not the presence of sin.

Now, you may wonder why would God allow this? Why would God deliver us from sin’s power, but not its presence? Well, the short answer is , “ The secret things belong to the LORD our God...” There is an aspect of this that we shall never receive a satisfactory answer. However, with that said, we do know that according to all things work together to help us be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (8:29). Thus, even our struggle against sin helps us become more like Jesus Christ.

The nature of the believer’s victory, then, much like the Kingdom of God, has a already-not-yet flavor to it. We are already freed from the power of sin, but God in His infinite wisdom has chosen to allow us to battle through and with sin for the rest of our earthly lives. And God, through His infinite grace, has provided us with an advocate. That is, He is our Defense attorney. So, when believers sin, when you and I sin, we have our defense attorney fighting for us, telling the Father, “Their sins have been paid for, they are not guilty!” John writes this letter for security in order that we may not sin. Our goal as believers is to continually decrease our engagement with sinful thoughts, words, and actions.

B. The means of the believer’s victory- vs. 2a

The means of our victory is, as I have already mentioned, Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have fellowship, with both the Triune God and with one another. We established that in the first chapter of 1 John.

However, we look at the means, the mechanism (if you will) by which we have victory. It is through Christ’s saving work. That is, His perfect life, His constant obedience to the Father, and His willing-death on the cross on behalf of HIs people. John tells us Jesus is our Advocate, but then John describes Jesus with another word. He is “the propitiation for our sins.” Some translations take the one word and break it up into two: atoning sacrifice. But most translations have propitiation. The word means appeasement, or to put it in sacrificial language, atonement. It was the goal of the Old Testament sacrifices. The people of Israel wanted to appease God’s wrath against them for their sins, and so they would offer lambs (in accordance with God’s Word) to make atonement, to appease. All of those sacrifices in the Old Testament were shadows of the ultimate sacrifice, the death of Christ. As Sam Renihan describes the purposes of those Old Testament sacrifices,

“The types of the Old Testament were instruments designed by God to reveal Christ and HIs kingdom in a sufficient, but not exhaustive, way.” - Sam Renihan

[Sam Renihan, The Mystery of Christ: His Covenant & His Kingdom (Cape Coral, FL: Founders Ministry Press, 2019), 34.]

The means of our victory of the substitutionary death of Christ. The Scriptures are clear that Christ died for us. John says Christ is the propitiation for our sins. tells us why this is so important.

Romans 3:24–26 ESV

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

You see, God is just because sin is punished. Christ received the just judgment due us. But God is also the justifier in that Christ paid for our sins and gave us His righteousness. You see, it is all by God’s grace and for God’s glory. The means of the believer’s victory is the sacrifice of Christ. But finally, let’s look at the expanse of the believer’s victory.

C. The expanse of the believer’s victory- vs. 2b

The expanse of the believer’s victory applies to everyone who would believe. If you compare with , you will see that John is saying, “Jesus paid for more than just your sins, He paid for the sins of other people!” And why is this important? Because we are called, as the church of God, to preach the Gospel. We are given the incredible privilege and responsibility to tell other people about the saving work of Christ. Christ died for other people, so that they too would have an Advocate, so that they too could gain victory over sin, and so that they too could preach the Gospel to other people. God’s kingdom expands through the preaching and sharing of the Gospel.

II. SECURITY IN OBEDIENCE- vss. 3-6

We have security in Christ, in His person and work. But John goes on to give us one more tool to help us with security. His letter for security covers our responsibility as well. We are responsible to be obedient to the truth God has revealed in the Scriptures.

A. Obedience is based on Christ’s Commands- vs. 3

The first thing we must realize is that our obedience is to what God has communicated, not what we think is good. John says, “…if we keep his commandments.” I know I have mentioned this before, but the word keep implies and intensity, a serious grasp of and obedience to those commands given to us by God. The Old and New Testaments reveal to us how God desires that we live. And due to time constraints we will simply leave it at that. Our duty is to know the commands of Christ and then to do them.

B. Obedience proves the sincerity of our faith- vs. 3, 5-6

As we claim to be followers of Christ, we know there will be times we fail. We will not do the things we should, and we will do those things which we should not. We already discussed this in the opening verses of chapter two.

However, our consistency in obeying the commands of God prove the sincerity of our faith. Think about a man who claims to love a woman. He tells her he loves her. Yet, he doesn’t spend time with her, he never calls or writes her, and he never does anything to show her that he loves her. Of course everyone, even a child, would recognize that the man does not truly love her. And yet, is this not the state of many people who claim to be Christians? They say they love Jesus, and yet nothing in their lives prove it. John tells us that obedience proves the sincerity of our faith. It gives credence to our claims. It puts actions to our beliefs. And as we obey God, we are given confidence that we truly love Him.

Now, there is a dimension of this that can cause us to doubt. Remember, look at your life in large spans, not in days or weeks. It is easy to focus on the failures of a day and to despair your relationship with God. However, it is about our walk, step after step, of obedience.

Finally, John gives us an encouraging phase in verse 6. He writes, “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Ought to, meaning there will certainly be times in which we do not. Obedience proves the sincerity of our faith.

C. Disobedience proves the insincerity of our faith- vs. 4

The opposite is true. If you say you love God but fail to keep Him commandments, John says you are a liar. Just as obedience gives us security, consistent disobedience should give us unrest. This is a means of grace, a way that God can show you that you need to repent of your sins and trust in Christ’s work, and pray that He will work through you. It is God’s grace to allow you to see your sinful ways and to be restored to our gracious Father.

Who are you trusting? God or self

What shows your trust? Obedience or disobedience