The Changes Jesus Makes
Notes
Transcript
The Changes Jesus Makes
The Changes Jesus Makes
change
my times of change (When your role in life changes) (New responsibility)
Believer
Husband
Father
BODY
Martin Luther: I have never read a book more simply written than this one, yet the words are inexpressible.”
Background: 1 John was written to probably believers in Ephesus combat false doctrines mainly denying either the incarnation of Jesus Christ (he was only God, not man) or denying that he was the Messiah (that he is Jesus the man only, but not the Christ). These false teachers were from among their ranks () (eventually called Gnostics) heavily influencing the believers to whom John was writing (Likely those in Ephesus). They held that “all matter is evil”, therefore Jesus could not have a physical body or that would be sinful. This also meant that human beings were sinful because they too had physical bodies, not because they themselves had committed sin by disobeying God.
These bad beliefs led to bad behavior and it caused believers to think that sin wasn’t serious. It is John’s belief that fellowship with Christ and with believers is the best way to solidify TRUE doctrine and the only way to defeat sin.
The
It is John’s belief that fellowship with Christ and with believers is the best way to solidify TRUE doctrine and the only way to defeat sin.
Transition: Anyone struggling with sin? John gives us 5 ETERNAL MARKERS of life in Christ
The Eternal One Who Changes (1:1a)
From the beginning is also the words that John uses to introduce His gospel.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John is going out of his way to remind the people of Jesus’ true nature
Equivalent with the Father
Fully God, Fully Man
Present at the Beginning of Time
This is the reminder of Jesus’ actions that Paul describes in
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
If we do not believe that Jesus is God with us, God in the flesh, fully God and fully man, then sin will so easily become casual. When we forget that Jesus came and lived on earth as humble servant among people our view of sin will become warped. When we sin we will get angry with ourselves because we think “oh no, I’ve been found out!” or “oh no, I failed to live up to the standards I’ve set for myself”. We do this because we are thinking of God as space cop, policing the galaxy and laying down the law. Our view of sin will rapidly shift, when we think of abusing God’s grace as spitting in the face of a humble friend with outstretched hands.
For this reason it is important to remember that Christ was God and man who came down to live among us.
The Reality of the Evidence
Heard it
Seen it
Looked upon (examined) it
Touched it
John of all people can make these claims.
This is the same way we hire real estate agents, or painters, or mechanics. Personal recommendations from people we trust that assure us to the trustworthyness of the message. If they thought it was okay after their experience, then it might be good for me.
John was called the disciple whom Jesus loved (). Now it was in His gospel… so… if I was writing a gospel, I would probably say that about myself too… haha.
John was with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration when he pulled back his flesh to reveal to Peter James and John sliver of his divinity and it baffled them.
John was called the disciple whom Jesus loved (). Now it was in His gospel… so… if I was writing a gospel, I would probably say that about myself too… haha.
John saw the miracles, John saw the ministry, John saw the cross, John saw the resurrection, John saw pentecost, John saw everything!
The Revelation of the Evidence
John was with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration when he pulled back his flesh to reveal to Peter James and John sliver of his divinity and it baffled them.
We could know nothing of God unless he reveals it to us. He has done so through Christ, and through his word. Now we have the testimony John recorded, we can read the description of what John saw and experienced about Jesus. The believers here did not have the scriptures. When John says it was made manifest to us, we know what He means! We read it like we were there too!
The Eternal Changes He Makes (Perfect Tense Verbs)
We have heard
We have seen
Joy may be full
Past action, Present effects (On going results). When you have experienced Christ truly, it will revolutionize the way you live. Your life will be markedly different than before you knew Christ. If you don’t see that in your life (1) consider your relationship with Christ, (2) strengthen the relationship by the spiritual disciples: reading, praying, memorizing, fasting.
The Eternal Message We Preach (v.2)
Obviously this relates the pastors and the way sermons are built for the pulpit, focusing on the eternal life offered by God.
However, the everyday believer is to pattern your speech in such a fashion. If you’ve experienced the truths of eternal life for all people, it must affect the way we even talk to people on the phone, at the store, in restaurants. I know a number of people who ooze the hope of eternal life, but I don’t know that I always do.
Never lose sight of that message. Pastors need to remind of it in their sermons, but christian conversation should be shaped by it.
The Eternal Purpose We Share (v.3)
Fellowship: Partnership with Jesus and partnership with other believers
Believers: Church
Christ: Faith and Ministry
The Eternal Joy We Possess (v. 4)
Our Joy:
Two important aspects of the Christian life:
It was never intended to be walked alone
It was never intended to be kept to ourslves
There is a joy that cannot be fulfilled in any other way when a spiritual mentor passes down knowledge and truth and exemplifies the faith to a younger believer.
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
CONCLUSION
Throughout your life, you mat be able to pinpoint many events that produced real change in your life. Hopefully, one of them is faith in Jesus Christ, freedom from sin, and life in fellowship. If not, message me on here or call me and let’s talk about it.
Maybe you’ve been a believer for a while and would just really like to grow in your faith.