THe Hope of Christmas
1 John • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Title-
Passage- 1 John 3:2-3
Attention-
I remember when our children were born
So small, sweet, innocent
By the third one it goes from being in wonder of their sweet innocence to wishing they would stay that way
And you look at them and begin to wonder...
Who will they become?
What will they be like?
From the biblical perspective we ask, “For what purpose did God send this child to us?”
God doesn’t send children into this world without purpose
Our children are no different
Jesus was no different
Introduction-
This morning John is going to move into what lends itself well for this Christmas season
John is going to share that the baby Jesus came for the purpose of dying for our sins and then for the Judge Jesus to come again at the end of the age
For the purpose of gathering together who have accepted salvation and judging those who have not
These future events are as certain as night follows day
They are guaranteed
Main truth-
This future hope, with the blessings and promises John will share, that hope is to be the motivation for the believer to become more like Jesus in this life now.
Transition #1-
What is being taught? (Explain the passage and draw out the 1st century truth)
John is sharing three certainties with us here in verse 2
Three certainties that find their footings in the Christmas account.
The first certainty that we see is one we have already seen
Because Jesus came as a baby at Christmas, lived a sinless life, died, and rose again we have the opportunity to become the sons of God
GOSPEL
Jesus is coming again…during the Christmas season we celebrate the coming of Jesus to Earth as a baby in a manger
But the certainty that John wants us to know is that Jesus not only came as a baby, but He is coming again as Judge
Chapter 2:28 was first mention in 1 John of Jesus’ return
There are several other places in scripture that tell us that Jesus will return
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This the reality that Jesus will come again and make all things right again
The Lord executeth righteousness
And judgment for all that are oppressed.
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
He will right wrongs, he will renew creation, he will make ALL things new again
So, we can become the sons of God and Jesus will come again to take us to heaven…that’s not the end of our hope
We will also be like Him
In other words, these broken down bodies of ours will become just like the resurrected body of Jesus
No more pain, no more sickness, no more disease, no more death
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The final hope is that not only will we be like Him…we will see Him
We will be with Jesus…in His presence
Notice 1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Do you notice what John is doing?
He is saying.....I have spent time in the presence of Jesus…I have touched Him, heard Him, spoke face to face
The hope of Christmas is that if you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin you will see Him just as real as John did
Transition #3-
How do we live this out in our context? (Application of the biblical truth to us personally)
How do we apply this hope to our situation
This week the application was easy for me, John gives it to us in verse 3
“Every man that has this hope in Him”....what hope…the hope of the Gospel
Do what? John gives an imperative…command
Purify yourself and be pure even as Jesus is pure
1, 2, & 3 John Sin and the New Life
John builds a case against the person who wishes to be known as a Christian and yet defends practices and attitudes that God has defined as sin. To do such a thing is to be lawless and to reject God’s authority, and this should rightfully call into question one’s assurance of eternal life, because it calls into question one’s identity as someone born of God.
But John also acknowledges that even those who have been born of God do sin, and he calls his readers to acknowledge and confess their sin because God is faithful and just and will forgive confessed sin based on the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood
Conclusion
When we come to Christmas we think of the bay Jesus
So innocent and pure
The truth is that Jesus stayed as innocent and pure as the day He was born
That’s our challenge from John
Prepare yourself to meet the one who died for your sins
Purify yourself for the day you will meet your savior face to face
Christmas is a time of Hope
For a lot of people Christmas is not a time of hope
Due to so many different circumstances some are alone or depressed or worried
Freinds we don’t need to life a life of worry or depression, or loneliness
That is exactly why we celebrate Christmas, Jesus came to bring us hope
The best part is this…all you need to do is tell Him you want it
Contrary to other preachers or teachers we don’t want a seed gift or anything else
We want this one thing for you this Christmas…HOPE
How do you get it..
Close your eyes and bow your heads with me
If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life
Admit your sin
Believe in Jesus
Repent
Pray a simple prayer
Christians to be renewed in their excitement of this hope in their lives
That they would live like they will see Jesus
That they would work to ensure others will see Jesus as well
Closing song-