Sept 5, 2021 Sunday Morning Service

We continue our studies in the book of 1st John, where in Chapter 3. And if you have your Bibles, you care to carry along with us in the reading of that chapter, feel free to do. So, we got some bibles are in the pews someplace and we can pick them out and and use those. I'm reminded of a story where a preacher. Decided he wants wanted to go to the third grade class and to impress upon them, the dangers of alcohol. And so as we enter the class, he brought in with him a bottle of whiskey. Any open the bottle of whiskey and he put in a worm? In the worm, started the wiggle, and then it stopped. And then it just floated on down to the bottom of the bottle. And so he turned to the class and he said now this is a great illustration of what happens. When you drink alcohol. Can you tell me what happens? He said, third grade boy stood up and he said, well, if you drink whiskey, you won't get worms.

I don't think he had the the, the illustration correct and that's not the effect. The preacher was looking for and and certainly as we consider that story in light of First, John. It seems that there are many including Christians who don't know or understand the gravity of sin. And so we're dealing with that in this first, or in this third chapter concerning sin and who Sands, and and who does not send. And that's the point that John is trying to impress Upon Our Hearts. He said, you can tell the difference between a true Christian and a bogus Christian. And you'll get to that in just a moment and explaining that for us. But as we understand what John is saying, there's one indication. That prove someone is a bogus Christian and that is the idea that they are not joining Jesus in seeking and destroy. So if you would open your Bibles, or I can read along with us here through 1st John chapter 3 beginning of verse for whoever commits sin. Also commits, Los Lunas lawlessness and you have known or you have and you know that he was manifested to take away our sins. And in him, there is no whoever abide in him. Does not send whoever sends has neither seen him nor known him little children, that knowing deceive. You and who practices righteousness is right, is just as he is righteous. He who sins is all the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning for this purpose. The Son of God was manifested. He appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God, does not sit for his C remains in him, and he cannot send because he has been born of God in this, the children of God, and the children of the devil are manifest. You can determine Who is who you can determine, who is a children or lose a child of God, and he was a child of the devil. So that kind of destroys a notion that you're not supposed to judge. Anybody, you can't make judgments. But according to Jesus, in John chapter 7 verse 24. We need to make a righteous judgement, right? You can't be hypocritical in our judging. That's the point. That Jesus is making in Matthew chapter 7, hypocritical judgment. And so before we take the stick out of someone else's, I'll make sure that the plank that big old log is not in our. So, the point there is hypocrisy while you can Dem somebody else when you're doing the same thing. That's the judging that were to be. So, His seed remains in him. He cannot send because he has been born of God in this, the children of God, and the children of the devil are manifest. Whoever does not practice. Righteousness, is not of God, nor is he, who does not love his brother? Now, the gnostics were those who believed they had Superior knowledge. There were those who believed they had Superior spirituality. And they were trying to have the people to whom John, his writing agree with them agree with their doctrine that if you send, it doesn't matter. Because the sin goes against the Flesh and not your inward, man, not the spirit within sin, does not harm or affect your spirit. Let me ask you. In the final day, what's going to be judged? Our flesh or our spirit? Our spirit the inward, man, our heart or mine that animating Force within our flesh. And so it is within that body of ours that there exists as pulp, polyps, a man, one of the Flesh. And one is the inward man, and then he goes on to tell us because our outward, man is her man is being renewed, day by day. And so it is with Christians at all, to be with Christians that were Allowing God to continue. To make us new, remember his compassion's are new every morning, according to Lamentations chapter 3. And so we find here that God wants us and desires that are in word being or inward person be removed. And it's always going to be renewed when we were in Christ, Jesus. Remember, he said, those who are in Christ. Jesus cannot send What does that mean? Cuz I know that. Earlier in the week. I think I said. And earlier in the week. I'm sure that you think you send. And so, all of us have sinned and reducing. Because if we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. First John chapter 1 verse 8.

Right? When you walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. In the blood of Jesus Christ. His son cleanses us from all sin. And yet, he says, it's right after that. If we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in it. So therefore as we walk, we stumble but as we stumble, we get up and we get up our efforts alone, but by his efforts upon the cross where he shed his blood and the whole purpose of the fellowship that we enjoyed with the father is due to the blood of Jesus Christ. And so's. The blood that cleanses us is the blood that keeps us going. It's the blood that purifies us and we cannot do it ourselves alone. We can't do it alone. So I need to Rely Upon Jesus Christ. And so I find it interesting that Jesus. Came to destroy. That he wants to be a destroyer rather than a builder. It's so he came to seek and destroy and he asked each of us to join him and seeking and destroying and will explain that here in just a second. But as we think about this speaking and destroying, we go back to the Garden of Gethsemane. We go back in that pristine environment, where there is no said, Poor man is not corrupted himself. But then the devil entices man and the whole relationship that we had with the father from the beginning. Became corrupted. So you would think that God would say, oh, it's all over with. Man, did it to himself, there's nothing that could be done. But he didn't, he didn't give up because he said a plan in motion in Genesis chapter 3, verse 15, where he's addressing the serpent. The devil. He says, you will bruise his heel and he will crush your head. And so there in lies, the beginning of the plan that the seed that would come from the woman. And then when we think about all that transpired, we think about that, she's lying. You think about how God protected that seed line all the way through the events of the old Covenant? And then we coming to the New Covenant, enter the New Testament, and they're in Galatians chapter 4 beginning of verse form. When the fullness of the time had come God sent forth his son, born of a virgin born under the law. And so that the exact time the father, he sent his son. And then we think about John chapter 1, in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And then and the word became flesh in verse 14. And so what John is doing here just like he did in the very beginning. In chapter one. He's reminding us of the appearing or the manifestation of Jesus Christ. Really what he's doing is because of his birth. Because of his birth, he's able to do these things for you. Which all came to a head upon the cross? So notice again, what he says for this purpose. The Son of God was manifested for the grace of God, that brings salvation has appeared to all men. That's Titus, Chapter 2 verses 11 appeared to all men that he might destroy the works of the devil. And so, what does he mean? Might destroy. Because that's on the subjunctive mood. It's a maybe or might mood. And so we find here that he might destroy the works of the devil has nothing really to do with the plan of God, because the plan of God is that Jesus would die upon the cross. Not a Mite, or maybe he did, he did. And he would from the from an eternity, but he says and I think this explains it, Whoever has been born of God.

And so, here it is. He might destroy the works if you allowed to send the seed of God to remain in you. And what's the Steve? What she's talking about? What Jesus taught about the, the store who went out and he spread seed and relearning, that Parable, that the seed is the word of God. That went to see this spread into the heart of man that has an influence much like leaven has an influence on bread and much hell. Lemon has an influence upon The church and there, it's a metaphorical livid. That is Sin. Sin can enter the church can enter into the body of Christ and influence it. And so in 1st Corinthians chapter 5, Paul says A little leaven leavens the whole lump. So get rid of that guy, get rid of that man who singing you're putting up with him in his ass and let him be turned over to say and that is this Fellowship him because sin will infect the body, you know Moses made that clear to the people before they entered into the land of promise. He prophesied to them. He said, things are going to be great. You can, we're going to enter into the land. You're going to have a land flowing with milk and honey. You're going to worship the other gods. And because of that God will turn you over to the enemies to the Nations and they will bring you into captivity. And so even then we understand how sin can influence our entire nation of people. Not just an individual, but entire nation and sow his seed remains in him and he cannot send because he has been born of God. So, the mind or the maybe is this He would have destroyed the works of Satan if you allow God's word to dwell in your heart so that you live there by. Then works, but if you live, according to the devil, and as you said, you become a child of the devil, that is your influence by that person, but a devil by Satan and you live. According to his Works rather than the works of God, then Jesus to you has not destroyed. So that's why he's saying that he came to that. He might destroy the works of the devil because it's based upon what you and I do not a pain, what he did. Because truly he did destroy the works of the devil to those who have faith in Christ. So in this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest, make no, there made no. And so this gets back to the idea since we're talking about being born of God being born of God. Again. What does that mean? We talked about that last week as well, but I think it's important to talk about because a lot of people don't understand the connection between born of God and the new birth, right? The new birth being that baptism baptized for the Villas of our sins. And here it begins. And John chapter 3 beginning and verse 5. He says, Jesus answered. Most of us, truly. I say to you. Unless one is born of water and the spirit, literally, it's one is born out of water. And out of spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God, that which is born, of the flesh is flesh. And that, which is born of the spirit of spirit. That's what he's talking about. If you've been born of God, then the seed remains in you. So that which is born of the spirit. God is spirit. It's spiritual. And so those, you've been born of God live as spiritual life and those who are not born of God, who are born of the word. Well, they have yet to capture the essence of Christ's nor his preaching of the New Kingdom, nor his preaching of the new birth. And so, therefore, they live, according to the Flesh. And that's exactly what Paul says in Romans chapter 8 beginning verse 5. He says those who live according to the flesh, are those who walk according to the live, according to the play, and those who walk according to the spirit live according to the spirit? So to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually, minded is life and peace. So what Paul said, he has direct bearing on what Jesus said and Jesus has direct bearing on what John just said being born of God. It's all related. And so he says, do not Marvel. That I said to, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it and the sound of it. But you cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone, who is born of the spirit? He's not talking about the spirit acts like the wind. He's talking about the new bird. He said, you can't tell when the inward man is born again. You can see its effects but you can't tell when you can only see it happening by its effects. And so it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. That's how you can tell, who's a child of God, and he was a child by the effects. Right, you could hear the wind, you can't see it, but you can hear. It could see the effects of it, but you can see the effects of a Christian because he's put away childish, things. As Paul said, he's grown, and he's with church, and then he's living a life for Jesus Christ, so you can see that change. Take place. And Jesus talks about growing that a person needs to grow and when someone is not growing, their growth is stunted there for begins of spiritual death. Tony has that John is referring to our Jesus is referring to here in John chapter 3. Notice in John chapter six verse 63, it is the spirit who gives life, the flesh profits, nothing the words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life. So the spirit gives life, you're born out of water and your born out of spirit. And then Jesus comes along and says, the spirit gives life. But then Jesus says he already explained that hear the Bible explains Itself by the very. Next verse one sentence or one verse is built upon another. And so the more you read the contacts, the more explanation you get about what he previously mentioned. So he says it is a spirit who gives life, while lot of people walk away from that and they said you just life. That's all. That's, that's needed. The spirits are going to be Fall From Grace.

Because you're so corrupt. You're so sinful. You can't even read your Bible and understand it properly. In order for you to understand it properly. You need a direct working from God, from Heaven, Power, electric bolt, or whatever. You want to call it, hit you in the mind that all of a sudden, you go home. I get it. I believe in Jesus. So, now Calvinism says, faith comes by hearing, but by the Holy Spirit, Directly, but what does the spirit tell us in his word? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by what word of God. So the spirit gives the word, we accept the teaching and therefore, we have faith. So it is the same thing here. The same process notice. That's the spirit. That Jesus says, that I speak. Very or Spirit they are life. That's how the spirit gives life through the words, through the words of Christ. And I think as we unfold this you're going to see how that works. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes faith, comes by hearing hearing by the word of God in him, who sent me has everlasting life and she'll not coming to judgment but has passed from death into life. That's just another way of saying what is born of water and of the spirit.

You passed from Death unto life, that's part of the process, but it begins by hearing the word and then believing it. That's how the spirit gives boy because the words come from the spirit. That's the point. Jesus is made that Jesus made previously in John chapter 6. AutoZone, will he brought us forth? Hell. Directly by the spirit. No indirectly by his word, by the word of Truth. Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. That sounds familiar. Doesn't it? I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation for everybody. There's no discrimination. Everyone's on equal ground that if you're going to enjoy salvation in God, then it's got to be through the gospel. It's got to be through the gospel. And so Peter makes that point in Acts chapter 15, beginning of verse 9, talk to you about the Gentiles. He says and he purified our hearts in like manner, through the things, both Jew and Gentile the fake, the word of God, which is able to save your soul. And then here in 1st Peter chapter 1, Since you have purified, your souls in obeying the truth having been born again, not of corruptible seed but Incorruptible through the word of God which lives in a badge forever. So you're born again by the word, but Jesus said you're bored again out of water. Then out of spirit. So will you put it all together? And what we find is, what Paul is talking about here in a fusions chapter 5 Husbands love your wives. Just as Christ. Also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify set. Her apart and cleanse her, with the washing of Water by the word. The word teaches us to be baptized without the word from the spirit. You would never know what to do to be saved. We have the word, the word of God. In the first century was the spoken word. But the spoken word of God was written down in Scripture that to is the word of God. So whether orally or rather in writing, it's the word of God. And all he was saying that he might suck the fire in concert by the washing of Water. By the word, the word of God tells us how to purify ourselves. The word of God tells us how to enter into being born again of water and the spirit that is through the word of God. And so again we go back to the idea of the purpose that Jesus was sent here for the purpose was so that he could be manifested. That he could appear to destroy the works of the devil. What are the works of the devil? I think it's three fold. You could probably think of others. But here it's to destroy sin, that comes from the father of, send the devil that is to destroy the guilt of sin, that comes from the father of, send the devil. And thirdly, that is to destroy the practice of sin, that comes from the father of sin. The devil. It's so what do I mean by destroy the practice of sin? Well, he says, if if the seed remains in, you will not send. So you're saying that if I do what Jesus did, when he was confronted with the devil in the wilderness that if I just say it is written and I apply that to whatever situation I find myself in that. I won't send, I'm saying God has given you an Avenue of Escape. I'm not saying you're going to the fall or not going to fall. That's up to you and your desire.

But they're still at remedy and there's still that way or Avenue of Escape. According to 1st Corinthians, chapter 10 verse 13, that God will provide a way of Escape for every Temptation for every temptation.

But we have to be willing to submit to the word of God and to do that, but I also want to clarify the tents because this is a very chapter. You're right. It is you think about you read that that you're not supposed to send because you are a child of God. And if you do send, you're not a child of God, but a child of the devil. But what's he say? Going back to the first chapter. You can't forget the first chapter. You see how these chapters built upon another. Each sentence is built upon. Another each word is built upon another. The Bible is best commentary that explains itself when we just continue in the content, but in the context, he says, if we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Now we come to chapter 3, if you send your not of the you haven't been born of God. What you been born to the devil. If you continue sitting. You have not been born of God, but you have been born. The devil. That's the point. If you continue willfully going on about Sin, remember, he's dealing with a group of people that have come that have Arisen, from within the ranks of the church, and they have begun teaching these people that's in, doesn't matter. That's saying it's not really all that bad because it's the flesh that Sins, Not the inward man. And the sin that the flesh commits does not affect the n-word man. That's exactly what they were teaching. And John has exposed them all the way through. How do you say those who continue sitting like those funks those we have come up with in the ranks of the church and telling you these weird and terrible, terrible stuff. It's in and they're sitting. And so, because they're denying sit in their lives. First, they deny that Jesus came in the flesh, but they also denied that they even have sin in their lives. And so, John goes out of his way to show that Jesus was born of the flesh that he really was on the cross, and that his body really did die. And that his body was resurrected. On the third day. We call the first day of the week Sunday. So, he mixes all of that into his argument. In the first, three chapters of 1st, John. And so, as we close out this morning. I'm just going to read this because I think it's highly important and it gives us much information about and commentary about 1st. John chapter 3, what we just read. Now, I say this, now this I say let anyone should deceive you with persuasive words for though. I am absent in the flash yet. I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ, Jesus, the Lord. So walk in him. That's equivalent to walking in the spirit. Walking Christ is walking in the spirit. Walking in. The spirit is equivalent to walking in God. What does it mean? Notice where I knows how he explains it? I know it's subtle, but it's an explanation. So walking him rooted and built up in him and established in as you have been taught. The face the word of God about engaging in it with Thanksgiving. That's how you walk in Christ. That's how you walk in the spirit. Remember that. He says that the law of the spirit of the laws of spirit in Christ. Jesus has made me free from the law of sin. In the law of the spirit, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's called the faith, call the word. And so he says, if you walk in it, you're, you're walking according to Spirit. You're doing the things of the spirit, you're doing what God wants you to do. It's no more mysterious than that. And so he says, beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy now. This is where philosophy hunters in. That's the man's opinion. We can have an opinion about something. A lot of people have an opinion about spiritual matters, but their opinions are devoid of God's word. They don't allow their opinion to be molded and shaped by What God Says in his word. They just have an opinion because they have an assumption. And we're told never to assume, so he says, beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty, deceit, according to the tradition of men according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ. 4 in handball, all the fullness of the godhead bodily and you are complete in him that is through Christ. And through his gospel. You are complete in him. Who is the head of all principality and Power in him. You were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through the face, not my face, but nothing in the world, who raised him from the dead and you being dead and your trespasses and the uncircumcised uncircumcision of your flesh. He has made a live together with him having forgiven you all. Trespass is all sin. All iniquity unrighteousness.

You can't get any more all her than all. Oh, has been forgiven having Wipe Out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us talking about the law of Moses, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. And So It Begins Jesus because of the Cross destroyed, the works of the devil and destroying the works of the devil has now given us freedom. Freedom. If the son of man makes you free, you shall be free. Indeed according to John. If you, you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. You cannot have freedom without Christ, but you cannot have freedom. With Christ and without the truth. Because the truth also comes from Jesus. And so we need to understand that Jesus had the truth. and so it is we come to our Invitation, and some people wonder what is an invitation. Why do you do that? Well, the invitation is this. Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. And then we could go to a whole mess of other passages that include in this idea of an invitation. Remember faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You've heard the word of God preached, and you believe it. If you heard the testimony today and you believe it, and you want to be baptized, you can be baptized and be forgiven every, since if you have him, baptized and forgive her sins, but somehow you've let sin creep up in your life and you join the party of Satan. You cry, still calls us back says come back home. Leave the party. And Satan come in and join the party of God again. And stop sitting stop. Continuing the same process, come back to living in righteousness. Because in Christ, there is no sin because in Christ, we have the blessing of the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin. If you're subject to that imitation of Jesus Christ, this morning want to come forward as Together, We Stand and sing.