Exposing False Claims

Sermon One Title: Exposing False Claims

Text: 1 John 2:3-11

Focus: Claims matter, especially claims about God. What one claims about God has to square up with what God revealed in Jesus. One problem with false claims about God is that they can lead to unethical lifestyles.

Introduction:

The uncomfortable reality is that many claim to know God, but what they say has little to nothing to do with what the Bible reveals. Take a quick tour of YouTube channels. Look for religious programming. Watch a few minutes of various videos. Write down false claims made about God or Jesus. Present these false claims. Make clear these claims will affect the kind of lives these individuals lead, as well as those who follow them. Transition to 1 John by asking what false claims John had to expose to guide his church away from bad lifestyles that resulted. Only in this way could his church remain with God.

I. Claiming to Know God (2:3-5, “I have come to know him”)

A. Every religion claims to know God.

1. All major world religions make this claim.

2. All Christian-like groups and cults make this claim.

B. Proof is in the pudding.

1. Knowing God is keeping His commands.

2. Keeping His commands completes His love.

II. Claiming to Remain in God (2:6-8, “the one who says he remains in him”)

A. “Remain,” John’s favorite word for relationship.

1. Describes the relationship of Father and Son

2. Describes the relationship of Jesus and followers

3. Describes the relationship of believers and Word

B. A disciple of Jesus should look like Jesus.

1. Believers walk as Jesus walked.

2. Jesus walked a path of sacrificial love.

C. Jesus brought a new age through incarnation.

1. John ironically referred to a “new” old commandment.

2. The command to love is ageless.

3. Jesus brought a new age of love that will remain.

III. Claiming to Be in the Light (2:9-11, “the one who says he is in the light”)

A. Light is a theme in John’s Gospel and in 1 John.

B. Right theology creates right community.

1. Claiming to be in the light means loving others.

2. “Hate” is choosing to ignore the needs of others.

3. Ignoring needs contradicts the claim.

C. Some lifestyles lead to stumbling in the darkness.

1. Love presents no cause for stumbling in life.

2. Jesus said our lifestyles contradict our claims (see John 9:41).