Aug 1, 2021 Sunday Morning Service

Better luck next time, brother.

Good morning everybody. Glad that you're here with us. That we could be together and worship Our God and think about Jesus and think about the cross. And just think about the blessings that we have in Christ Jesus. On the first day of the week, I was just thinking about the passage from 1st John chapter 3 when it says we shall see him as he is, we're going to see Jesus as he really is one day as he is, one day no person on Earth has ever seen God. Do you say why didn't people see didn't Moses see him? And didn't know other people see him, know, he manifested himself and covered himself and also he represented himself by the glory that shown but he could not Fully revealed himself to mankind, otherwise we all burn up and die. But we're going to see him in heaven. He is and what a blessing, what a joy for that is going to be. And I'm sure we're looking forward to that day and so we will see him as he is. And I thank you all for your prayers and for your calls, and for your text. And for all those Communications, a thank you very much. They were comforting and reassuring. And and the family certainly appreciates the prayers on behalf of them as well. So we're thankful for you for that. And as an aside, My mother, her body will be sent to Connecticut, she'll probably arrive, either Wednesday or Thursday, there's going to be awake in Manchester Connecticut, and that will be on a Friday night and then on Saturday and we will have her funeral and, and so, just want to let you know about that. As we continue our study in the book of 1st John, we're mindful of the fact that John is riding to a group of people who are struggling with some issues concerning Doctrine, because of some group of people that have Arisen from within and who were teaching Foss things and making false claims about Jesus. And so, through this false teaching of the Brethren, there were unstable, unsure of who they really were spiritually. And I'm sure all of us perhaps have been there at one time or another when we think we know something, someone comes and they start telling us something we heard before or we've never paid attention to that kind of sets us back on our heels a little bit and repented, begin to wonder, I wonder if that's true. And so we begin to investigate the matter, hopefully, we investigate the matter but that's what we need to do. And that's what these folks didn't have scriptures to turn to write. So Revelation was still unfolding at this time. So, John is taking that role in revealing to them what they needed to do by this very letter. And so this letter serves as scripture. And many folks. that we look at in the world today and even here in 1st John, they appear to be holy holier than thou craps, right? But they're not. Holy God recognizes only two kinds of people Saints and ants and it was a lot of ain't going around here in the first century church because they were being led Away by others and because of their influence, they were leading other Christians away. But they were would soon find out that what they were hearing and what they were following was not the truth of God recognizes that try to prove portray themselves as Saints, right? Even today, some ain't try to portray themselves as Saints. You've heard me say this before, when you're a child and you have children and you've been a child and you know what I'm talking about that when Mom and Dad want you to say something, you're going to tell them what they want to hear. And so they have an ever-ready answer, may not believe the answer, they're giving you, but they're going to give it to you none the less because they know it's going to keep you satisfied by hearing the correct answer. And a lot of these people today they have the right language, the right lingo and the right temperament, but a lot of people simply don't add up to being a sane. and so, as we continue our study in first job, Which is entitled lighten up. Meaning we need to be illuminated illuminated with God's scripture. We need to be light it up by the light of God's truth. And so we talkin about shining examples shining examples of people of the faith So as we were talking about the gnostics tried to reveal that they were some sort of super Christians, right? They were endowed with some Supernatural illumination. That they knew all things and they knew that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. And yet, time and time again, we find John arguing that point saying Jesus did indeed come in the flesh and he go back to his gospel. So we leave 1st 2nd, John 3rd, John at even the Book of Revelation with you. Girl, we leave those behind and jump back to the Gospel of John and a John chapter one. It says and the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us. Now there's some time span between when John wrote his gospel and when he began to write 1st, John 2nd, John 3rd, John and revelation. Those are all the johannie in literature as they call it. And so from the time that he wrote the Gospel, there was this kind of an uprising going on. Where people were saying Jesus did not come in the flesh. Well, by the time he's riding this app is 1st, John. It's really exploded upon the scene. So it's becoming something of a problem in the Church of Our Lord, at this time and Christians had to combat against it. And it was leading many astray because of what they were preaching and teaching. And so, John is riding to tell them to be aware of some of the people they're following because they were fakers and they were frauds. They were Saints pretending to be. And so, in the book of 1st John, we've looked at a number of passages where John Begins by saying, if we said, If we say you're such a number of occasions and what he's doing, he's exposing the arguments. By the gnostics. And so the Gnostic said this. And so, John has a Sheltie saying, if we say this, that is, if we say what they say, then this is what happens. But John is riding also to say. This is what I told you. So, you have God's word and you have man's word, who you going to believe? And so they were to put their trust in the man of God John because of John's truth, because of the message that he had because he was an apostle of Jesus Christ. And because he did work, Many Wonders signs and miracles among the people and so they were able to recognize that within John and so those if statements if we statements show that what we're talking about but John as we said last time has three test three tests that we can know that we are truly of God. One is the doctrinal test. The doctor will test says, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and do you believe that he came in the flesh? We believe that. So we pass test number one and then the second test has the moral test, the moral test. Are you walking? And if you're walking in the light, now, notice I didn't say, are you not sending? I can't say that because that's the point. John's making, but bottom line, are you walking in the light? Yes. Yes, we're walking up. That means we're living by faith, we're living. So there we pass test number two and then test number 3. He says here's a sure sign that you're a true child of God, rule of the brethren. You love the brother. And if you do love the brother, the church. If you love The Lord's church, then you pass test number 3. And that's the social test. Do you have a doctor?

So Baker's know the talk but fakers do not walk the walk. That's another thing to consider. And so the Bible tells us by their fruits, you shall know them, right by what they produce. Or what they don't produce. Write their sins of omission and their sins of omission, the sins of omission, or those things that we don't produce but the sins of omission of the sins that we do produce. And so the idea is that if we are living obediently and we're doing the best that we can, it has Mike said in his prayer, the Lord's table. He was saying saying that we need to strike, we can't be perfect, but we can strive to be perfect, right? That's, that's the attitude. We need to have, as Paul said, flippy in chapter 1 and verse 27 striving together for the faith of the Gospel. We're striving, and it's a battle. That's why you said, striving the worst literally fighting, we're fighting, we're fighting against Satan, and we're in the Battle of our lives and it's that simple. We have to accept that fact. The moment, the moment you came up out of the Waters of baptism you enlisted in the Lord's army and whether you realize it or not, you're in a battle war.

Now. Satan is battling you and me because he doesn't have you and me. He has the world in his hand. That's why he fights much harder for your soul. He already has the world ever that song has the whole world in his hand. Talk about God, that's partly true of Satan as well. So, we need to consider. That, so John doesn't mince words. He doesn't leave a a gray area in John's riding it's black and white. And he says the church needs to be black and white not necessarily skin color but when it comes to scriptures, this is what God says. It's black and white and you can know. And that is the truth. We can all understand God's word together and we can all understand God's word. A like if we're willing to understand God's word alight, so there is no gray area. and so, he's saying essentially this fact He's talking about Jesus Christ and who he is, and he talks about what Jesus did for you. And for me, and for the world, he died for our sins. And then he says this one thing and I'm putting it in our own vernacular. He sang if Jesus and his life. And if Jesus and his death on the cross, motivate you, to be a child of God, then you are a fake, that's what he say. if you are not moved, To follow Jesus and to change your life for the better. Then you are a Christian in name, only. She a Christian follows Jesus. A Christian is one that Jesus said if you desire to come after me let him pick up his cross and follow me from Matthew chapter 16. Verse 24 is that we are to crucify ourselves to The Flash. We can't let the flash armor take us. Right? As Paul said, shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound? No, will, how do you overcome if we crucify ourselves?

I want to do this, I really want to do this but I'm not going to do it because Jesus is my Lord that's why and that's does the best answer that one can provide because Jesus is Lord and not only is he Lord he is my Lord and so therefore I make it person I'm not going to hang out with that crowd over there. Well why doug? Because Jesus is my Lord And my lord does not want me hanging around with such a crowd. Remember evil companions, corrupt good morals. And if you're susceptible to falling to send ballington Temptation, Jesus says cut that off cut those relationships off And follow me. It might hurt because they're your close friends and you have a lot of heart to heart but which is more important, loving them or loving Jesus. Loving Jesus is far greater and has far greater reward than we can imagine. What's up? John says, the person is a faker and what makes the difference while here is what John says specifically and 1st, John chapter 2 1st, John chapter 2. Now, by this, we know him if we keep his come in. How do you know, Jesus? There's a lot of people in the religious World, folks. They say or do just give me Jesus.

Don't bother me with all that doctor stuff. Don't bother me off those Commandments stuff. It's not Commandments. That's going to save you with Jesus.

Gave the Commandments. So now by this, we know if we keep his command that's how you become more intimate with the Lord. You get to know him better. And John's going to stay a little bit later in chapter 3 about practicing righteousness. So we understand that we need to practice righteousness. You know, I'm having a difficult time being nice to people. So you know what? I think I'll go down to Hearts today and I'm going to the store and I'm going to shop around. And if someone dropped something on the floor here you are, man. This fell out of your pocket. I'm giving it back to you and she's going to say thank you, kind sir, and you're going to say, you're welcome in person, and I'm going to reach up on a, on a top shelf, or some ladies, trying to get some candy. And I want to grab that can for her and why? Because Jesus Loves Me. Jesus is my Lord. He wants me to be kind and I'm going to be kind. And so I'm going to practice my kindness. And what did I say about practice folks? It makes perfect, right? So the more we practice kindness the better we become as we may not be complete in, it may not be perfected in it. But we're striving because we're practicing and we're doing what the Lord has taught us to do. Oh, how about this? Lord wants me to know his word. Right. And so I need the practice, I might not know it all that. Well, it's so what I'm going to do is I'm going to force myself to know that the church is a school. It's a school. Jesus, that's the University of Christ. Jesus is the head of that school and he has disseminated the teaching material, we call it the Bible and he says, you, my brother need to know this.

So we have the capacity as a church to come together and to study together. And so I'm going to study with my brother, I'm going to learn more about Jesus and I'm going to learn more about his will for me in my life by studying his word. Why? Because Jesus loves me and because Jesus provided this perfect word for us to live by the perfect standard. And so, I need to know the standard. I want to know the standard because I love Jesus and I need to know more about him. Intimately. Therefore, I'm going to learn more about him intimately and so he says, he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar. Oh, I know Jesus.

Well, I don't do a thing. if that that dude, every wrong thing I can, But Jesus loves me really. Well, here's what John wrote. In fact, here's what God says, it's the Holy Spirit through John, who's riding this. I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar. And the truth is not in him, but notice a difference. But whoever keeps his word here, we find the present tense continues to keep his word or keeps on keeping his word. Truly the love of God is perfected in him by this. We know that we are in him. How many can claim that today? We get into Jesus Christ.

The question. baptism exactly run were baptized into Jesus Christ so that we know that we are Indians that if we continue remaining in him Let me keep his Commandments, we can be baptized into Christ. But we can't become worldly and we can deviate from his word and we can stray from him in our actions, and in our lives, in what we say, and what we do, how we live our lives and we consider ourselves from Christ. And so, we can know as Paul says in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 13, Verse 5. Examine yourself to see if you're in the faith. If you are in living by God's word, you can examine yourself. Am I living the right way? Am I doing the right thing? A lot of people don't know what the right things are because they don't want to study God's word it so they don't know. They are forcing themselves to be ignorant, but Jesus says, you need to know my word and you need to let my word. Well, we're in your heart richly. Richly.

We need to know God's word. We need to know it by this. We know that we are in him, he who says he abides in him, Aunt himself also to walk just as exactly as he walked, Don't notice he walked in Perfection, right? We don't necessarily walking profession but we're striving for Perfection and so we got to do the best. We can do exactly what Jesus did. We can see how Jesus approach people. We can see how he handled the Sinners we can see how he loved people. We can see what he said. Two people who were in sin, and then we can also see what Jesus said, to even the hardest reprobates. There were the Pharisees and the Sadducees and how he treated them. So we had that whole line of thought concerning Jesus, the Christ and his example for us today, but whoever keeps his word. Truly, the love of God is perfected in him by this week. Know that we are in him. That's what we need to know. That is what John is saying. We know when we are doing, what he says, I want you to think about this prayer, this prayer goes back to the 1960s, and I change the words around because there were a lot of these $1,000, and and so forth. But I'm going to read this prayer. Tell me what you think of it. O God, our Heavenly guide as finite creatures of time. And as dependent creatures of yours. We acknowledge you as our Sovereign Lord. Amen. Amen. Project freedom. And the drawers thereof to Forever Reign throughout our land. May we forever have the courage of our convictions that we may always stand for you and our great nation. May the sweet cup of fraternity, ever be ours to enjoy and build within us that kindred spirit Which will keep us unified and strong. Sounds good. Amen! And gender with that! Wisdom! Kindred to honorable decisions and a Godly work. By the power of your Infamous Spirit, and the energizing virtue there and ever, keep before us our pledges of righteousness. Bless us now in this assembly that we may honor you in all things, we pray in the Name of Christ. Our blessed savior, amen.

And that assembly broke. And they went. And they lynched three black men in Mississippi. This was a prayer from the leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

Would you say that that would be an imposter? Would you say that this prayer was fraudulent? Would you say it was said by phonies and fakers and Liars? Yes. For that is what they were that prayer was Blasphemous in light of the actions. They took imagine that. And that's exactly what John here is pointing out for us. Whoever commits sin, also commits, lawlessness and sin is lawlessness and you know, that he was manifested to take away our sins. And in him there is no sin, whoever a Barnes and him does not send. Now, I want to remind you, John doesn't have Alzheimers. He hasn't forgot what he just said in chapter one, here in chapter 3. Number in chapter 3. He says, if we walk in the light as he is and I, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son cleanses us from. If we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us now. He's saying, Whoever abides in him does not sit well, I don't buy to get him and I said, does that mean I'm not in here? Or does that mean I'm not abiding in him? Know, it's the tents, the tense of the verb, you know? Jesus makes it very clear. You the point to self Jesus stressed, the tents of verbs past tense, present tense, future tense, and he made his arguments based on the 10th of 1st. and so we must also, the tents here is present tense. Whoever continues abiding in him, does not continue sinning. That's the point. Whoever continues sitting has neither seen him or noon. If he's not saying you're every now, and then you send any fall is not talk. Please talking about your hardened heart or Rebellion. You're talkin about someone who just wants to send and do their own thing. Yeah, I know you die for me on the cross of Calvary, but I'm still going to do what I want to do. And a lot of people think that way. A lot of people think, Christianity, they have Jesus on the cross where he died for my sins, but now, I'm in the cafeteria line. He says, love your brother. Okay, love my brother, love all people. I'm going to pass on that because I need every now and then.

Oh, okay.

Compassion to a person.

Help people.

I think they can pull whatever they want and follow that. You can't do that just because Jesus died for our sins. Jesus died for the New Covenant in his blood. That means all the teachings that Jesus has all the teachings that came from the apostles. All the teaching that came from the Spider-Man. Those are the teachings that we need to follow the good, the positive and the negative that is theirs. Dues positive and negative because they know they're in the wrong. It's so thank you. Just bury their heads in the sand and ignore it. They think they're out of the way or not subject to judgment because of that. So again ever since continue setting has neither seen him nor known him little children, that no one to Seaview. He who practices, right? If this is right, just just asking is righteous. He who sins he continues? Sitting is all the devil for the devil has sent from the beginning, for the purpose for this purpose. The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God. Does not sin, does not continue sending for his seed. God's word remains in him and he cannot send, he cannot continue, sending because he has been born of God and therein lies the difference. You can abide in his word but John says you're still going to send, but you're going to reap any though, since you're going to confess those and you're going to move on and you're going to grow, because you keep practicing righteousness. Like Paul says, take heed, lest you, you know, sometimes we can play some say, hey, I've been doing good this whole week. I'm right up there. God loves me, right? I got a clear ticket to Heaven this week. Well. What about next week? What about tomorrow? How many sins will you commit tomorrow? Let's not even think about that brother. But let's practice righteousness and let's focus upon Jesus and keep him in our minds and in our hearts will, how can we avoid? Send We can't avoid sir. That's the point. But we can do the best we can to try to avoid sin. Remember the Lord provides an escape for every temptation, but we also understand that we need to allow God's word to work in our hearts to remind us of who we are and who he is, and why we should not send so to know God is to submit to his teaching. Disobedience means you do not know God. Continued Disobedience. Okay, so You don't believe God is love. If you believe Disobedience will make you happy. A lot of people take that route, we're all guilty of it, I'm going to do this because it will make me happy. At least for the moment. and then, after the moment's gone, You've got to deal with what the heady consequences and so it is with all of us and as we consider this today, I want us to think about the idea of being righteous Jesus Christ makes us righteous but he makes us righteous through his gospel. And then he says if you believe in the gospel if you believe my good news and you believe in me, be baptized To be safe, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. If you desire to do that today, you can do that today. If you truly in your heart, believe that Jesus is the Christ said that his word is your way to heaven. You can take on that responsibility this morning and no, without effect that you were saved, perhaps you've done that. But perhaps, you have not been practicing the righteousness that you should tell, Jesus calls us back. He says, let's practice again. Let's start off on a new slate. Remember, his Tender Mercies are renewed every morning. Didn't that a blessing and you find that in Jesus Christ. We're all blessings are if you're subject to the imitation of Christ, this morning. Won't you come as Together? We Stand and send