Nov 22, 2020 Sunday Morning Worship Service

Well last week we were talking about the passage. We just read from John chapter 8 the woman caught in adultery. Unfortunately, that's a misleading title, isn't it? Because there was a guy involved in that adultery as well. But the focus is upon her for whatever reason remember those little sub-titles Divine they're not inspired. So when you look at your Bible and it says the tree above and then you start reading that was put there by inspired people, but they want to point us to at least the what what the text is about and it's about this woman who was caught in adultery whereby there should also have been a man mentioned in the context as well for there was actually but as we consider What the words of Jesus were what he says I am the light of the world he who follows me should not walk in darkness that's in the subjunctive mood. That's why there's a word should unfortunately there are translations that put shell or will without ever giving a consideration that the subjunctive mood is a mutt or maybe so when he says I am the light of the world whoever or he who should walk in the light or should not walk in darkness he saying those who might not walk in darkness because there's always a possibility that someone will walk in darkness. That's why it's in the subjunctive Mood by Daddy. the point that we were making last week was whether or not it's in the subjunctive and it is but whether or not one Since I want us to understand the meaning of what that send is, it's not a one-time sin. Another words he who follows me should not walk in Darkness Darkness for sin for Darkness for everything associated with temptation and sin and especially the source of Temptation and send the devil Satan. So he's saying whoever continues Whoever should continue. Walking in darkness. That's the point. It's not Whoever has sinned one time. Will be destroyed that's not what he's talking about. Whoever has in their lives. That's not what he's talking about. Why all of us have some kind of sin in our lives all of us from time to time stumble we fall we fail We can't miss the mark. Right Jesus is the light he shows us that he's the Target that we are to be like him in every possible way and yet we fall short of that Mark we miss the mark, hence. We send what the point is on the continuation aspect. Should you continue walking in darkness? Not that you may have done in darkness, but that you should continue walking the darkness now, he's talking about something totally different. He's now talking about a state or a condition of life. That one has that is one does not tempt Jesus seriously. When does not take his word serious? When does not take his church seriously one does not take what we just completed. Seriously that he died for our sins. And so Jesus goes on to tell us he says here I am I forgiven you myself. for your sins But I also got a new testament a New Covenant that goes along with this the New Covenant in my blood and I want you to follow that I want you to fall with the best you can. Lessen the best you can because we can't do things perfectly we might get it right one day and get it wrong the next but he says you still must walk in that is the light of his truth. And that's where life is in the truth. As I mentioned before he is. He came full of grace and truth.

And he said that to the apostles he said sanctify them by thy truth that word is truth. Therefore. We have a connection between grace light and Truth. To be in one you have to be in the other. Wrecked to eliminate one and hold to another we're still find ourselves outside of Christ. The access to Jesus is always through. The truth is truth. That's why he says. You shall know what the truth and what and the truth will make you free and that's not subjunctive. If it doesn't say end, it might make you free. But he says if you are in the truth, if you know the truth it will make you free. How do we know the truth?

That's first 32 of John chapter 8. He tells us in verse 31 of John chapter 8. He says if you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed or you are truly my disciples or we can say you are my true disciples.

If you do that, if you do what if you continue in his word, what does that mean? Do I continue reading my Bible that's part of it. Really? What he's talking about is the application of his word. If you can't end living continue living by my word if you continue employee my teaching to your hearts into your Write the Bible tells us in Jeremiah chapter 31 about the coming of the New Testament the New Covenant and it says that I will write my laws in their heart.

and David said Thy word have I have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee David had God's word written on his heart because he took it to heart that's the Pointe at so he was walking in the light of God. That's what John was talking about in 1st John chapter 1 not the Gospel of John but the book of First John chapter 1 verse 5. He said this is the message we heard from him and end declare unto you that God is light and in him, there is no Darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness.

We lie and do not practice the truth practicing the truth walking in the light abiding or continuing in his word or following. Jesus is about following his word. So they go together and that is part and parcel of being in the light and that's exactly why he says whoever follows me will never or should never walk in darkness and course. We have to understand now if we're walking in the light, we we're going to sit right Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit tells us but if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ. His son cleanses us from all sin. What's he saying? Well, if we walk in the light is going to be perfect. Is that what he said? No? Well, if you walk in the life you were going to be pretty much simlish now, that's not what he said. The next verse is important. He says if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in US. So it's pretty clear there for that if we're walking in the light. We're doing the best we can. But because we're human. And we're not Jesus then we're not God. but because we're human we make the wrong decisions in the wrong choices and therefore we said, But notice that is different than continuing to make the wrong choice or choices. That's a condition of the Soul. That's a condition of the heart. That's what he's talking about. When he saying you cannot be in that condition. You cannot remain and send you cannot be in. This I want to hear. This is how they they say straddling the fence. You can't you can't be in Jesus Christ on one side of the fence. I didn't live in totally opposite of the life of Jesus Jesus. You are a desperate right? You can't have it your way. You got to have it his way like Burger King going to have it. Well, that's your way. But you got to have it his way. So therein lies the difference concerning this idea of light. Going back to the story. We were reading we understand she's caught in the very act. We understand that she was with somebody else. We understand that there should have been the mail there because that's what the law said needs to be done. So we understand that right off the bat. Do you spell out of these Pharisees? These Jews that brought this woman to Jesus were one they had neglected the law. They send against the law violated the law of motion. Probably willingly because I brought only the woman knowing the incident so they willingly sin against God this way, but they also because they brought her to Jesus. Right. Lol. Jesus is going around preaching on the Son of God. I'm God In the Flesh. I can forgive sins. He wasn't the one to whom the Pharisees were to bring the guilty party or parties. They were the guilty parties to the Sanhedrin a group of 70 elders made up of the Pharisees and the Sadducees primarily the Sadducees and they would oversee the ruin. They were the court of law. They were the Supreme Court so they would bring the guilty to them and they would hear the case and they would decide upon the guilt and or the innocence of the parties. Well, they didn't do that. They brought her to Jesus. So there strike 2? And strike three is they did not care about the truth nor did they care about the soul that that woman nor did they care about the soul of the man who was also guilty?

And nor did they care about whether Jesus would give them a proper answer or not. And Jesus knowing all this stupid town. He starts writing. Again, we all know what he wrote. There's too much speculation about it, but he wrote something and then he stood up and he says

You who are without sin cast the first stone.

And it is says one by one from the oldest to the youngest they dropped their rocks walked away. hotels or something They were trying to trap Jesus but the answer that Jesus gave kind of just relieved itself from one extreme to the other and they were not expecting that answer. And here he is. He gives that direct answer. And they could not catch him and anything they could not accuse him of being wrong in any manner or do I condemn you go and sin no more then Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life in connection with he who follows me should not walk in darkness. Reverend Matthew chapter 16 verse 24 thereabouts. Jesus says all who desire to come after me. Let him deny himself pick up his cross and lusitana to pick up his cross daily, right? And follow me so you if you want to know the definition of following Jesus, then we have to understand the definition that Jesus gave the following that is denying ourselves and picking up our crosses daily and following him. That's what's involved in following and too many people. They want to give lip service to Jesus. I love Jesus. He's graceful and I just want to be a and the picture of heaven and and Jesus holding a little lamb and stroking it and pet it and we love those things. But Jesus said that he is full of what Grace and Truth.

I know you said you need to know the truth because why it's going to make you free, but didn't you died for us didn't your sit in your blood cleanse us from our sins already. Jesus is telling us what we need to do in association with the cross. He's saying look what I get. I gave up my life for you. Now you give up your life for me. And we give up our lives for him when we deny ourselves, you know, Jesus when you think about the idea of Jesus praying In The Garden of Gethsemane when he was asking the father basically to I really have to go through with this. I don't really watch it. Hang on the cross. I know I have to. I don't really want to. He denied himself.

Still think about that the next time you're confronted with temptation. Right, that's the idea of denying yourself to the point that you're going to say. Okay, I'm not going to do it, but I'm really not going to do it because I'm going to hurt myself. That is I'm going to crucify myself to doing it for not doing that. Right. I'm going to pick up my cross. I thought crucify myself. I'm going to I'm going to say no to these things as much as I want to. I'm not going to do it. But this gets back to the other idea. We spoke about from the beginning. And John says I write these things unto you little children that you might not sin. So there it is. There's the idea I write these things. Here's what you need to do. God expect you not to say But that's not the end of the chapter. Where is it the end of the book because he goes on to say but if any man doesn't let him know we have an advocate Jesus Christ the righteous we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous. So the point here is that if we're going to deny ourselves and even if we pick up our cross and you know Heat of the Moment and or in the blink of an eye, we decide that we're going to not deny ourselves. He still says there's hope for you. He still says there's a remedy for you. He still says his blood I just gets back to another aspect his blood continues to cover our sins when we are walking in the light. So again, we're back to the whole Crux of the matter if we walk in the light. We're in Christ Jesus for doing the very best we can. But along the way we Face temptation. What does it mean? We're not gonna say we have no sin. Well the moment I say I have sinned. Guess what I have failed. I have fallen to the temptation. But he says that's your still my child because that mistake that's in does not make you who you are. You are not defined by sin. As a child of God.

You are defined by the blood of Jesus Christ. Being a child of God that makes all the difference in the world. Those outside of Jesus are defined by who they are.

And unfortunately the Bible tells us they are in darkness because they are not like in the Lord. Because that's what Paul was getting in Ephesians chapter 5. He says for you were all once in darkness, but now light in the Lord, so if you are light in the Lord, what did you say so walk as children of light? For the fruit of the spirit is all goodness righteousness and Truth finding out what is acceptable to the Lord and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. That's our first dance. All right there. We understand the unfruitful works of darkness in. Great, that's the metaphor for things that come from Satan Temptation and evil in soon. Where can I buy those things and then he says have no fellowship with those things. So you do your best to get rid of those things but on the other hand, but if any man sin, let him know we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous. So that's the grapes being contemplated here. When Jesus says I am the light of the world because what has he done that we were talking about life is not only the metaphor for truth and goodness and righteousness. It's also an illumination of Truth. It provides us the correct answers that gives us the correct way. Okay, so he says you can know whether you are in darkness or whether you are in life. He says you need to examine yourself to see if you're in the faith. And so the idea is that if we do fall there's a remedy number one Jesus Christ the blood but the blood is not activated if we're in Jesus Christ until what

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So many people find that so difficult to understand. Jesus simply says, okay. You're in Christ Jesus. You put me on in baptism. You clothe yourself with me. You come up out of the waters a new creation in Christ Jesus. And if you sin you still have an advocate with the father. Jesus Christ the righteous and so he says you're forgiven. Your sins will be forgiven but it's conditioned because he says if we confess our sins if we do that then he says I will forgive you. I will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. So therefore we find that salvation is always condition. Upon doing the will of the father doing the truth practicing the truth is not part of our part of the scriptures on the PowerPoint. But if he would turn to the Book of John the Gospel of John chapter 3

John chapter 3

He says in verse 21. But he who does the truth does the truth? That is he who does the word? He who practices the truth? He obeys quite simply that's what he saying. He who obeys the truth comes to the light. That this or that his worse Deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God. So the whole point is that we found in John chapter 3 verse 16 in the golden text of the Bible for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Whoever Shall Believe in him should not perish notice subjunctive should not might not perish some translation so I can say whoever believes in God will never perish but have everlasting life. That's not what it says. Should not perish but have everlasting life. There is the Big Dipper a big theological difference between what God actually says in the text with a man picture. Big disparity but as he says whoever believes in him. Well here we get the idea of the definition of believing in Christ in verse 21, but he who does the truth because he's the one believing he who does the truth comes to the line that his Works may be clearly seen that they have been done and that's where the good works are. That's where the works of God. Our God has given us towards to do things to do commands do all day. We're to love our neighbor as ourselves right to do those things where show kindness love respect. And then we can think about those moral attributes being added to them having patience kindness love Faith all those moral attributes weather for ourselves or towards others. So we treat people the way Jesus treated people are then we have other commands associated with we're supposed to pray. So we pray we supposed to take the Lord's Supper every Lord's day every first day of the week. So we do that to do what he said. And so those are works that are clearly seen that have been done. We're in God and God that's walking in the light because the light has illuminated us. With what we are to do. We are to do the worst those things necessary in pleasing our Lord. In fact Romans Chapter 2 beginning of verse 4 on down 2 verse 11 tells us that we should be looking to please we should be looking for glory honor and immortality. Will that tells me something there to immortality means life Everlasting? Right right. Now we're Immortal beings. We have a we have a definite end date sometime. Hopefully it's somewhere way out there, but we all know it could be enough. But whatever it is. We're mortal. He says but you seek for goodness honor glory and immortality that is for eternal life in Christ. Jesus eternal life to you and me. But it's conditioned upon walking in the Life which gives us sub conditions, which is things we must do in Albay. That's why it's condition. That's why salvation is conditional. That's why there is an if there if we walk in the life if we confess our sins those things are very important. One of these days I'm going to go through the New Testament. I do a series of left lessons on that one little word if It's a little word, but it's a great big powerful word to. Need to know the word. If so ask me consider. This idea of light and darkness. Jesus said I have come into the world that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not believe I do not judge them for I did not come to judge. But he who rejects me has one who judges him? The word that I have spoken the same will judge you in the last day. Therefore we find the significance of knowing his word. Not just knowing it mentally memorizing it we can do that a lot. And that's why we sin because we know what it says. We know what he wants us to do, but we don't do it or we fall short of doing. And and so he says we're going to be judged by that. And what the world doesn't understand is that they're too going to be judged by God's work. Did you leave live up to the standard? Not perfectly. But did you live up to the standard in safe to to the standards that I've given you? We're all going to be judged remember and 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 10 will all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ for all the things that we've done in the body whether good or bad so there is a judgement day, but the idea is if we walk in the light we can know and be assured of our Salvation never have to worry about it a lot of people fear death. Because when they die, they're not going to be sure where they're going. But Jesus came to say listen, you don't have to fear death. Just continue walking in the know that I'm full of grace and truth.

And so when we even don't practice the truth, we still have Grace. That's the blessing of being in Christ Jesus. I can't stress how important that is to you and to me because a lot of people don't see it that way. Jesus still says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved and a lot of people look at that verse and they and they strain at it and then they go for my pastor tells me that's not true. All I really have to do is believe in Jesus. I don't have to be baptized. That doesn't doesn't save you.

all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus for because here's the reason why he says for your children of God in Christ Jesus because for as many of you who have been baptized into Christ have what put on Christ literally you have clothed yourselves with Christ. That's the idea. And Peter says repent everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ be baptized repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins. Jesus says he that believes and is baptized purpose shall be saved.

Are you all sons of God in faith? How what was the purpose behind it for as many been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Repent and be baptized everyone even in Jesus Christ for the purpose remission of your sins, and that of course, we find that in Acts chapter 22, the Apostle Paul gives a recounting of his salvation process how he came to be safe course, we know that he was on the road to Damascus and Jesus spoke to him the voice from Heaven Saul Saul. Why are you persecuting me? And then he tells us all to go into the city where buy he will come into contact with a man named ananias ananias would tell him the things that he needs to do and then the Bible That's it be anticipating. This idea said that Paul prayed and fasted for 3 days. Paul prayed and fasted for 3 days and when the appropriate time came Anaya's comes to Saul Paul. How do you says? Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized washing away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.

We need to understand the water itself doesn't wash away the sins. It's the Act of Faith in being baptized in water. That washes Away The Sins. It's that act in faith that brings us to the blood of Jesus Christ that does cleanse us from all sin. That's the significant relationship between doing what Jesus said. And the result of having done with Jesus said forgiveness of sins. And so the idea of Walking In The Life. Is Paramount but is based upon obeying the Lord? Doing the truth after seeing the truth and part of the truth of being in Christ is to be baptized. Just as Jesus said the words of the Lord.

Are you going to say what my pastor says he that believes is saved. I think you be baptized just to be a part of the church or are you actually going to read the words of Jesus and accept what Jesus says which by the way is he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Which one is correct? He that believes are saved shall be baptized or he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. I think the words of Jesus. Aren't we taking at the literal value? And of course Peter said and 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 21. He said baptism does also now save us that is doing the act that Jesus asked us to do inside. Is that what puts us in Christ Jesus? If you haven't done that, you're not in the light, you're not in the light of Jesus Christ because you're not in the light of his word which tells us how to be in the light of Jesus Christ. But Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life until Jesus gives us the truth to follow and if you desire to put Jesus Christ on this morning in baptism, were you find the Forgiveness of your sins and knowing that the Bible tells us that when added him to the church, if you desire that today, you can have that perhaps you've done that already, but you have not yet been faithful perhaps you've wandered away. The Bible tells us about this wide gate in this broad way that leads to destruction and then he says and many will follow their in know you're going to take that broadgate and that Broadway But then he says but narrow is the way. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to eternal life. There it is. Sometimes we fall to the the difficulty of it all and we give up and hence we said but there's still that remedy that Jesus says confess your sins things will be alright. If that's you this morning, then once you come forward now, it's Together We Stand and sing.