Passing the Test 1. 1 John. 11'2'08

Passing the Test, Part 1

How do I live?

1 John 2:1-6

Sunday November 2, 2008

Who wrote this letter? John:

An eyewitness of Jesus. 1:1-4
An elder
A pastor

The author was an eyewitness to Jesus life and ministry; he was an “elder” and a pastor. His perspective was unique! He had walked with Jesus, listened to Jesus, touched him, spent time with him – and was now a pastor with a concern for churches that were being misled by false teachers. He had experience in life and a concern to share that with people that he loved.

Love (agapē) is stressed throughout this letter. It occurs 18x, which is more than in any other book in the New Testament.

Is a test negative or positive? Debated with the name for this series – like going to the dentist!

Our first reaction may be negative – but how do we feel when we pass the test? We have assurance, we have confidence! That is a feeling that God wants us to have about our relationship with him! Without that confidence, we are weak, unsure and stuck. You cannot run on to 2nd base if you keep a foot on first base!

Passing a test shows us how far we have come!
Passing a test qualifies us to take the next step!
Passing a test gives us confidence and assurance! That is a good thing!

What does it mean to be a Christian? In a country where many say they are – simply because they are not Jewish or Muslim – what does it really mean to follow Jesus? How can we know for sure? How can we have confidence? What are the boundaries of faith?

How do we know that we know God? (Bold statement!) How can we claim to know him? How can we be sure?

I can remember as a boy, “getting saved” every week! Raising my hand, praying a prayer, wanting to make sure that I was ready to meet the Lord! That came from a good place in my heart, yet God doesn’t want us to stay there.

John doesn’t want us to stay there either! As a pastor, his goal for us is to move on to maturity, confidence and assurance.

Do I need to have a “religious experience”? Do I need to see a vision, speak in tongues, fall over and faint? If I don’t have an overwhelming feeling – am do I still know God?

On the other hand – is an experience or a feeling enough? Is that all I need to have a relationship with God?

Listen for the “test” –

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6

He wants those he is writing to to have confidence in their relationship with God; to have assurance, to know him – not just know about him.

1. I can know that I know God IF I obey his commands! :3

“if we obey his commands”. “if” a little word with a big meaning.

“know” not just “know about” it is a personal knowledge, a relationship, a heart not just a head thing.

The Christian life is not a list of beliefs that I say “OK” to – it is a life that I live! The proof of my love for God is my loyalty to him and his commands. It is easy to say “I love God” in fact, most people would say that they do. Not the point. The question is: “Do you do what he says? Do you obey his commands?” As we may say “the proof is in the pudding”. As we say in our culture: “Talk is cheap”.

In other words, we know that we have come to know him, because we have seen in our lives the change that has taken place so that the commands we once thought were ridiculous and stupid and life-destroying, we now learn to joyfully obey because God’s work in our lives changes our understanding. We have come to learn that this God who we used to hate, we now love. And the commands that we used to disregard and hope that they were somebody else and ’not for me,’ now become something we love. What can explain a psalmist writing this, "Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long." Does that sound like something a typical non-believer would say? No. This is a person who has been changed, who’s understood that the God he hated and feared is in fact a God of tremendous love and has embraced him and brought him into fellowship with Him and he says, “ I love Your law! The lights are on. The blinders are off and now I can see how wonderful Your commands are."

If I obey his word, God’s love is made complete in me. It shines through my life to others all around me.

I’m a fan of Antiques Road Show. Anybody else watch this program? One of the hardest things about the Antiques Road Show is when the guy brings in his alleged antique and the evaluator uses that worst of all words, ’reproduction.’ He’s saying, "This is a fake. It’s not the real thing." And the way they can tell is there are certain marks. Some people can bring in something that looks like a Tiffany lamp, but unless that little "T" is on there and a date and these different markings, it’s not real. So, there are ways to tell counterfeits and there are ways to tell what’s real and what’s true. Spiritually: do I obey God?

2. If I say I know him – but don’t do what he says – I am a liar! :4

:4 If I say I know him, but do not obey his commands – I am not just “mistaken” – I am a liar! The truth is not in me! I fail the test! I miss the mark, I am on the wrong side of the fence. There is a right and a wrong, there is a pass and a fail for this test.

Harsh language, but I am deceiving myself if I think I know him but I don’t obey him. Liar in the sense of being self-deceived.

2 incomplete relationships: (huge problem in America)

I know God in my head
I have felt God in my heart.

But the relationship is not complete until I do what he tells me to do! Until I live a life of obedience to his word!

3. I can know that I know God IF I walk as Jesus did. :6

:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

“This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” :3-6 The Message

How did Jesus walk? Obedience to the Father. Motivated by love.

What does this mean, practically? Wear sandals? Grow long hair?

“I wouldn’t have done that / said that – if not for the Holy Spirit in my life!”

“I would have done . . . or said . . . – if I hadn’t have listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit!”

The “old me” would have done / thought / said . . . but I didn’t do that! Evidence of a changed life!

Not: “I’ll do this to prove that I know God; I’ll grit my teeth and love obey God, even thought I sure don’t want to.”

But: “I know God; he has changed my life, my nature. This is who I am! This is the real me! When I fall into sin, that isn’t who I really am! That is not my nature any more – my true nature is to love, serve and please God! (God has made provision for that, :1-2)

So, it isn’t about my “effort” – my heart has been changed from the inside out!

That is why Jesus compared us to fruit trees. They grow fruit, the type of fruit that they are, naturally and normally. <Chorus: From the inside out.> Same with us. If I know God, truly know God, I will do what he says.

This “walking like Jesus did” flows from the inside out; it just shows that I have a new nature. NOT that I want to change bad enough that I work it out / up on my own. He changes me.

Now this is important. You see, this whole passage is about relationship. In fact, this whole book is about relationship. "If you’re in relationship with God, this is what’s going to be evident in your life. If you’re not in relationship with God, this is what’s going to be evident in your life. If you’re in relationship with God and He is at work in your life transforming you, here’s the model of what you’re going to begin to look like." This is not to say, "Okay, here’s the model. I’ve got to pursue that. I’ve got to go after that." And the fact is that as we grow in our relationship with God, that desire to become like Christ becomes the goal of our life. But again, be careful not to make this a rule instead of a relationship. It’s a relationship with God that will play out itself out in the following of this particular model – the model of Jesus Christ.

Ok – I want to follow God’s commands; I want to “walk like Jesus did” – but I don’t always do that. Now what?

4. God’s love is greater than your sin!

Good news! The goal: to not sin! But, if we do, God has made a way back for us!

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” :1-2

2 huge words:

1. “one who speaks to the Father in our defense” other versions have the word “advocate” a “defense attorney”.

Imagine the scene: Our sins are brought before God; our defense attorney is Jesus, the Righteous one. He can declare us innocent – not because we have never sinned – but because he has paid the price for our sins himself! You can’t beat that!

When Jesus looks at us, he says “Yes, he has sinned, but I have paid the penalty for his sins, so he is clean in God’s sight!”

He is our advocate, not our excuse maker. Yes, we have sinned, but YES he has paid the price for those sins, and has restored our access to the Father! That is why the cross is the symbol of our faith!

Now we see, that we cannot take him as our advocate if we have no desire to obey him with our lives. “Lord, I will take the forgiveness you offer, but I don’t want you to mess with my life.” Doesn’t work that way.

2. “atoning sacrifice” again, other versions have “propitiation”

He paid the price for my sins. his blood satisfied the payment demanded by the justice of God for sin.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God.” 2 Cor. 5:21 NCV

How can I “obey his commands”? No one does this perfectly, no one bats 1000 – but the idea is that my motive, my intention, my goal, my deepest desire – is to please God! If when I stumble and fall into sin, Jesus is my advocate, my defense attorney, he is the one who has paid the price for my sin – in advance! He is the “atoning sacrifice” for my sin, and not just mine, but the sin of the entire world!

Communion service today.

So, where are you? Do you pass the test? Not that you are sinless, but that you want to obey God; you see evidence of obeying his commands; your deepest desire is to obey him and to be like Jesus. If that is so, than God wants you to have peace, assurance and confidence in your life. If that is not the case, then today can be your day to make sure you are right with God. Confess your sins, ask him to come into your heart and make you a new person.