Oct 24, 2021 Sunday Morning Service

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Well, as you can see the total of our lesson is know it all. And that's what John has been talking about. This study that we have been doing for the past 15 weeks or so from the book of 1st John. And today we close out this study from this wonderful book because it gives us hope it gives us courage to gives us strength. It has what was red in the last passage, but, brother, Clay, Kayden, we see that we have confidence. 36 * 36 * in the book of first job. We find the expression. We know. Six times in the passage that Kayden read for us. Is found that expression we know six times. And so John is riding to a group of people who are struggling with their salvation. Why? Because I've come across some people that came from within. Andrew began to start teaching false Doctrine. They began to teach that Jesus Christ. Did not come in the Flash. I could not have said that whoever died was not the Christ was not Jesus because these people, they were called gnostics believed that the flesh was sinful. And if the flash was sinful, God could not reside in sinful flesh.

so, The same thing with the human body, it is sinful. And so they said we're not simple because the spirit within us is not sinful even though the flesh is sinful. And so we allowed on the flesh to serve and and and please its own appetites and they could send that will. And yes, that would claim it did not affect you in Windward man. The spirit, the human spirit and so they can sit all they want and still be fine with God. That was their message. That is what they were teaching and John is combating. And he's telling the people there. You can know that you're saying. But he also talks about the fact that if you're a true Christian, you're going to send. This gnostics were denying that they sent even though the flesh around them, send the n-word Spirit was not sitting and so John comes around. He says, If we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in US. And so that is a prominent theme throughout the Book of 1st John and we touched on that on several occasions. But as we consider more about 1st, John, and as we think about knowing it all, we need to know what Jesus means when he says we need to know it all. And well, we just sang, a song When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I'll be there. How many people here today believe that is a fact.

How many are not sure?

If you're not sure you need some work because Jesus has done the work for you. We need to know that Jesus died on the cross for you, and for me and ask Dale, Darcy there forever more. But we do, we must obey. Remember, the Hebrews writer says he is the author of Eternal salvation unto all those who obey him. He is not the author of Eternal salvation, to all those. Who disobey him? See how that works. So, we need to obey. But are you planning that we need to be? Perfect? No, not in the slightest. Ecclesiastes chapter 7, verse 20 of my mother's tells us there is not one, just man who does not send. Imagine that, there's not one righteous man who does not send and then we enter into the New Testament. Where do we find? We find one man? Who came to this earth to die? Who did not send? And that's what it's all about. It's about serving Jesus, serving. The one who died for you and serving the one who never seen, you know, how, you know, how ridiculously that is to do not to send in. Someone say, well, Jesus was also God. Yes, he was God. But he was also one hundred percent human. And when he was faced with temptation. Temptation cannot phase God, but it can phase man. God cannot be tempted. The Bible tells us Satan was not tempting God, but he was tempting Jesus as human side. And the Bible tells us he was the sinless son of God that because he loves you so much. He devoted himself to you. That he would not send. Imagine that because he loved you so much. He devoted himself to go to a cross. And prior to going to the Cross, he devoted himself to getting pummeled. To supper. Because he loves you. So and because he loved you so much. He actually went to the Cross carry his own cross. Allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. L out himself to die for your sins, not his, but yours and mine because he loved you so much. John Sang. Remember that? You can know of your salvation through Christ Jesus. A little granddaughter was staying over her grand mom's house and she accidentally locked herself in Grandma's bathroom. So Grandma, I'm looking for the key to get her out. And of course, the granddaughter was a bit anxious and she was yelling and screaming and so Grandma kept looking for the key. But the, granddaughter down. Grandma said, don't worry. You'll be. Alright. Jesus is in there with you, too. And the girl replied With Tears In Her Eyes. What Jesus wants to get out to?

Isn't it something that we can know something about our God, right? A lot of people claim to know a lot about God. All we know about God is what he has revealed to us in scripture, in, Deuteronomy. 29 verse 29. The Bible tells us the things that are written, or for you and for your children, but those things that are not written the secret things belong to God. We have no idea about the secret things that belong to God and God tells us we don't need to know or even contemplate. The secret things that belong to God, what we need to do, what we need to focus upon are the things that are written for us and for our children, that's what we need to do. And John again is telling us we can know with assurance that we have salvation in Jesus Christ, and he sustains that salvation through his blood, we can know that much about our salvation. We might not know everything about that, but there are some things in the Bible that we can know and know, for sure. And know that we know that, we know them. And John is making a plane, you know, this, you know this as well as we consider the text this morning. He says, you can know that you are saved and noticed. What he says from verse 13 at Kaden read for us. These things. I have written to you, who believe, in the name of the son of God. Not that you believe in the name, Jesus, Son of God, but that you believe in the authority of Jesus Christ. That's the expression. That's the meaning of that expression. In the name of the son of God by the authority of the Son of God. We believe it is authority authority. Remember just before, he gave the Great Commission. What did he say? All of Thor t has been given unto me under Heaven and Earth go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son of the Holy Spirit. And so he has all authority. And then one day according to 1st Corinthians, chapter 15 verse 24. The Bible tells us that he will deliver the kingdom back to the father and he will subject himself. To the father. And so he like you and me will be subject to the father in eternity. Now. Do you see what? Jesus gave up to die for you? He gave up some Godly attributes. Because before he was telling us that he is equal with God. That he truly was part of the godhead in that, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, work up all equal to each other. But now, what do you deliver the kingdom back to the father and the kingdom is you and me. And when he comes back for us and he gives us to the father, he will be subject to the father just like you and me. Our elder brother. Oh, what Jesus has done for us, more than just dying upon the cross, but giving up some things and Eternity for you and for me. And so he says, That you may know you have eternal life and that you may continue to Believe In The Authority. In the name of the son of God is not something that we can know that we have salvation. You can be sure that your stay, you can be sure of your salvation. You have it presently in your possession.

Hey, man. Hey man, we have it in our possession. It's yours today to enjoy. You have you have the responsibility and you have the audacity of rear of relishing in the grace of God, relishing. The grace of God? We don't talk too much about the grace of God.

Because there's obedience but understand Grace covers, our Disobedience. Remember that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all Sin from all on righteousness. Enemy coming to Romans chapter 8. Notice the words that Paul uses here. There is therefore now, no condemnation, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, but how did you get into Christ Jesus for as many be baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Therefore we understand how we get into Jesus Christ. I will be in obedience by Faith by being baptized in the cross. So those therefore have no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who, who do not walk, according to the flesh. So, here it is. If you're not walking according to the flesh. You remain in Christ Jesus and therefore there is no condemnation. Bonnie auburn hair. He says, but he says, if we're walking in the flesh. Then there's a problem but we need to be walking according to the spirit. That is low law for the law of the spirit of life in Christ. Jesus has made me free from sin and death. And so to be in Christ, Jesus means an active lifestyle and following Christ. I have decided to follow Jesus. Right? That's present. I must continue to keep following Jesus. Am I going to stumble and fall along the way in d? I n? But there was a difference brother in between falling. And falling away. Everyday, we saw when we snuggle, we call it sin. Remember? There's not a just person that does not send. So, we have to contend with that. But I also understand this by trying to do more good to erase. The bed. Doesn't do a thing. What does do the thing? Is the blood of Christ? It's the blood of Jesus that takes away our sin. Not the things we do. Remember that? Why we have to open and why we have to produce Works. We're never going to do it perfectly and because we're never going to do it perfectly. We must rely upon the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin. There's a lot of people in this Brotherhood of ours who's gone through life thinking. Have I done enough I know people have been on their Death Beds. Have I done enough?

You're asking that question. And you're asking that question now at the end of your life. When you ought to know as a Christian long before you reach this part of your life. That you cannot do enough to save yourself that you cannot do enough good works. In order to wipe away the bad. You can't do it. You have to rely upon Jesus and his work on the cross. That's why we can't save ourselves. Because Jesus is the only one that can save us and if we understand that fact, you can know of your salvation and that's why Paul said there is therefore now no condemnation. Who's going to blame you who's going to point you at guilty, the devil? Do you remember reading later in the Book of Romans chapter 8 that Paul says? Who, or what could separate us from the love of God? Can the devil? No, nothing. But your heart. Your own heart. And we'll talk about that in just a second. But as we continue thinking about these wonderful things and thoughts. We know this. It's a beautiful passage and it's from our context. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ. His son cleanses us from all sin. So, what does he mean? Well, if we continue present tense walking in the light. We have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sins, noticed that walking in the light there. Since there, since I need to be cleansed by the blood of Christ. He says, if we say that's exactly what we're doing. We can do whatever we want. Send wise, but it won't affect my spirit. Therefore. I'm not sitting. See how that works. It's kind of like what Paul was being with an enrollment. Remember Romans chapter 6, shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound? Certainly not evidently the folks in Rome or thinking I've been baptized into Christ. I can do whatever I want. Once saved, always saved Again by virtue of your baptism. The pulse is. No, that's that's a thought that through your mind. And then he goes on to explain. We find here. If we say, we have no sin. We deceive ourselves. We have to understand that we have sinned. And then he continues and he says, but notice this, if we confess our sins,, he is faithful and just to forgive us, our sins noticed that he is faithful. And just to forgive us, our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness is not a thing that you can do in the form of sin that could separate you from the love of God. North separate you upon your confession from cries because it's his duty upon your confession to be faithful. And just to forgive you of all your sins. That's part of the blessings that we enjoy as Christians. Remember, all spiritual blessings are found in Christ Jesus. And how do we get into Christ Jesus church? We need to be baptized into Christ, and then we enjoy all the blessings. That he has promised us. So we find that if we're walking in the lot we stumble and even if we do stumble, we have the blood of Jesus Christ and we confess our sins along the way and then he says you are my child forever. What a beautiful relationship that we share together with Christ and Hebrews chapter 10. The writer says that they're your confidence, which has great reward. Your confidence has great reward for you. Have need of endurance. Okay.

So whatever you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise for yet a little while and he was coming will come and will not tarry. Now, the just shall live by faith. We can read that and Romans chapter 1 verse 17. And we can read that from the book of habakkuk chapter 2 and verse 5, the just shall live by his faith. Noticed, it doesn't say the just shall live in perfection.

Says, the just shall live by his faith. My face, I know who is King. I know who has a nail scarred hands and the nail scarred feet. I know who shed his blood? For me I said. And I know that I need to rely upon him. For forgiveness, and I know that I can't be perfect. And I know that I said, How do you say, well, how do you know of is the Bible tells me? So The Bible tells me so therefore I know that's God's word and then he says, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. Define people who find themselves in sin and the guilt is so much too much for them to handle. And one name comes to mind, Judas. Judas. The guilt was too much for him. Couldn't take it. Express Godly sorrow, that could lead to repentance. And so, what did he do? He relied upon himself. For the remedy. And it wasn't a remedy. It was a slingshot to hell. He hung himself.

And so, he says, what if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. And of course, you know, the famous words that Paul speaks in 1st Corinthians chapter 10. He says, therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall, don't be arrogant. Don't be haughty. Don't be overconfident. Don't be complacent, don't think that. Because you've done some good things this week that you will never fall from grace.

A lot of people get complacent that way. Understand that you are available.

Because even though we're made in the image of God, we're not done God's the one that's perfect. It's the one that's fallible. We're infallible. And therefore, we make the wrong choices in life, even when you're trying hard not to,

There's things in this life that can entice us. There's things that can work with our minds to help us astray from God. Call Dad desire. So notice he says, therefore let him and thinks he stands, take heed lest. He fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God. But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able in that beautiful. We're going to face Temptation. He's going to he's going to give us a way of Escape.

If we keep our Focus, we can find that escape. But the problem is, when we take her eyes off, Jesus. We put our eyes upon ourselves in our own desires and we fought Us in. That's how we send we fall to Temptation because of our desires. By taking our eyes off Christ. As we think about knowing about our Salvation. These are the problems that plague us. We have this in common. That's why we assemble together on the first day of the week. And Hebrews chapter 10 verse beginning of verse 24 and verse 25. He says, do not forsake the assembling of yourselves as to, why? Because they assembled to encourage one another. We're in the same boat brother. We struggle daily was saying we're fighting a common enemy. Call the devil. And yet we have a common Savior, Jesus. And so we come together on the first day of the week, so that we can spend the rest of our week being charged up by what has happened on the first day of the week. Being encouraged being strengthened being edified. That's what this assembly is about. It's not just about worshiping God, but it's about those things that help you and me. And so we need one another. We rely upon. That's why it's good to be here on the first day of the week, and so park closes out. The book of 2nd Corinthians 1 chapter 13 e says examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith test yourselves. Test examine yourselves. We need to continue to do that. Am I living the right way? Am I doing things that please God? If not, I need to make the simple Corrections. If I am, I asked for more strength and I continue doing those things that I can avoid the Temptations in this ends. And so, we understand that guy. Is telling us, we need to be assured of our Salvation because in the final analysis, Jesus Christ has presented you to God and unspotted lamb. You're the unspotted lamb. Through the blood of Christ. God hears and answers. Our prayers noticed that that's an important topic. We understand that a lot of people ask me to pray for them. And sometimes I'll ask him. Why won't you pray for yourself? I don't trust myself. I don't know if I'm good enough to pray brother and don't be in that situation. That's not a right situation to be in. Yes. We need to pray for one another but we also need to pray for ourselves.

Until we know this, he answers our prayers. He hears our prayers is what John says he says. Now, this is a confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his, will he hears us? He hears us. I know someone who say, well, I asked for a million dollars last week and I didn't get it. You got to ask Cory to his, will, you think God wants you to be a millionaire? I know some people on television preached that God wants you to be Filthy Rich. He wants you alone, 16 rolls-royce's. Why do people twitch that and if you don't get those things, guess what? Your face just isn't strong enough. You have to try harder, and perhaps next week. You need to tie the more you need to give more right now. It works. But not with God. We need to pray according to his will and then he says he hears us when we do. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask noticed that whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him. Whatever we ask according to his will, we know that he hears us and we know that he's going to give us. It may not be in my time, but he's going to give us remember. He knows before I even ask what I'm doing to ask and he knows even before I ask what I need until he has always made provision, but there's one thing that he tells us about with prayer and this is an interesting Passage. The first John chapter 5 verses 16 and 17. If anyone sees us in which does not lead to death. He will ask and he will give him last For Those who commit sin, not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that all unrighteousness, and there is sin, not leading to death. Then that's interesting John here, saying, if you see somebody sitting a sin leading to death, don't pray for that individual because that prayer will be ineffective. Imagine that. So what is this sin that leads to death? What is he talking about? We noticed that we have to rely upon the context, right? So we're going to do a little bit of this this morning. How do we approach God's word? We have to understand the answers come from a context. Context. Remember in real estate when you're looking for a house. The model is location. Location location, right? In Bible study as you approach, God, its context context context. What is he talkin about? Or he's talking about this s*** over here. It's not talking about any sin over there or over there. He's talking about the same that he has been talkin about in the context. The movie dealing with. Gnostics. What are they doing? You're not sitting according to them.

These are the things that they're doing and are trying to lead other people away from John and to them and their new doctrine. And so John comes back and says first of all, you're in Christ, you have the blood and he had the blood for a reason because you said and if you say you don't send you're a liar and the truth is not in you. So they are liars. The gnostics were. That's what John's pointing out. You can say in a subtle manner, but he said it, none the less, they're liars, and the truth is not in them. And so as we continue, here's the said, when we talked about this in several weeks ago in chapter 3, here's the specific of what he's talking about little children. Let no one to Seaview, he who practices righteousness. Notice that he doesn't say he who does things perfectly is righteous. No, he says he who practices righteousness, you know, when you practice, you make mistakes, right? If you're a football player and you practice, you make mistakes in order to overcome the mistakes in the game that you're going to play on Sunday or Saturday, whatever the case may be. Finish like the Oklahoma Sooners, they remain undefeated, imagine that but they played awful actually played a couple weeks. But yesterday they played extremely bad. And yet, they still pulled it out and they won. But that's what our Christian walk is about. Sometimes you play horrible. We just play awful. But sometimes we make Great Plains.

But in the end, we win not because of the touchdowns we score. Not because of the first downs, we made not because of the tackles, but because of Jesus, who died upon the cross, for your sins.

And so he says he practices righteousness, is righteous. Just as he is righteous. The point being the gnostics were practicing. They've already gone to heaven according to their terms in the Super Bowl. They make no mistakes in life. They don't need to practice. What John says you do need to practice, you need to practice doing good?

Are you going to do good all the time? No, are you going to get everything? Right? The first time? No, that's why your practice he who sins is of the devil. For the devil has sent from the beginning 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 send so, it's about practicing, right? And it's about, he who sins is of the devil.

So, the point being is this. That's present tense language. And if we've talked about this before he who is righteous continue being righteous because he continued practicing being righteous. And then he says, he who said he'll continue sitting is of the devil. And this is the point that he's driving at the gnostics were the ones who are guilty of continuing and said, why? Because they didn't want to remedy for it. They rejected the remedy for it. They would not confess their sins at all. That would be a part of the remedy but they continued living. As if hey, I'm living my life and I'm going to heaven in the end. There's a lot of that in the world. Today. Every person that died is going to heaven, you've done to those funerals. You could be the worst word in the world and somebody's going to preach you. Write to Heaven during your funeral service, and that's not true.

What makes the difference Jesus Christ? What does that mean? We need to be in Christ. Jesus, that makes the difference. So, he says this. Whoever has been born of God. Does not send for his seed. That's the word remains in him and he cannot send, why? Because he has been born of God. In this, the child of God and the children, the devil are manifest. The children of the devil have been made manifest by John. They were the gnostics. And then he says one who's a Christian cannot send because he's been born of God. That is he cannot continue, sitting in the manner of the gnostics. You can't do that. It's a condition, a condition of the heart. That says I can do what I want. What I want, how I want. That's the person who has turned their back on Christ. And yet Jesus Christ came to die for that individual to shed his blood for that individual holding out his hand and Hope and Faith. And in love for that individual to be influenced by the gospel message. To be influenced by Jesus Christ. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God. I've known a lot of Christians over the years. lot of people who come to church on Sundays,

Who didn't live up to the name, Christian?

A lot of people. Turn their backs on Jesus. It all begins.

Buy a demonstration of once faithfulness, you know, there are measuring about Christians in about Christian Living. The auditorium. The assembly is one barometer. Who's here? Who's devoted? Another barometer is who is working? Who is doing the work that Jesus wants us to do. Write, these are parameters. And so, Jesus talks to the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. Chapters 2 & 3. Any talks to these churches and you says, hey. You're doing good over here, but you're not doing good over here. Some of them were just not doing any good. Some were doing good, but most were doing a little good and a lot bad. And Jesus says, repent. Repent, change your mind. Don't go through life thinking, that you have all the answers.

But this answer, you can know. You can know if your salvation if you are in Christ, Jesus. It's as we continue this, but he says, if we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins to confess our sins. Jesus knows you're saying, Jesus knows your guilt, but he wants you to express it to him. He wants you to acknowledge the fact. That you are a sinner. But he wants you to acknowledge the fact that you need him. That's what it comes down to. You. Can't get to heaven. Buy your own ways. You can't get to Heaven by your own works. You can do the works. They're necessary. But again, nothing is perfect because we are in perfect. Therefore, we have to rely upon the blood of Jesus Christ, final analysis, our enemy cannot Prevail because of the blood of Christ. If you're walking in the light, you're not walking perfectly, but you walking in the light. And you have faith and you look at the the book of Hebrews chapter 11 and it shows all those wonderful people that has come that have come before us who lived in faith. And every single person that we can read about, I say have some terrible, terrible moments of sin. So they weren't perfect the but they were praised for their faith. How about you? Are you faithful to Christ? Not asking if you're senlis, I'm not asking if you're a perfectionist, I'm asking. Are you faithful to Christ this morning?

If you're not you're not a Christian, that is you're not following Christ. That's what Christian means. When I say I have decided to follow Jesus. I'm saying I'm a Christian, but if I stopped following Jesus, I'm no longer a Christian in the very meaning of that word because I'm not following Christ. She Christian is not some title that we get to hang around your neck. As we walk into the stores and walking to the different facets of life. No. It's who you are. It's about who you are. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ and it begins the very moment. You believe the gospel message of Jesus Christ. He that believes and is baptized shall be safe and all begins right there and upon that baptism. You're baptized into Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. We're back. He add you to his church and he gives you all the spiritual blessings. That you can ever have. Simply because you put your faith in him and by faith were baptized into Christ. Some of you have done that but some of you have stopped walking in the light and Jesus says they're still the remedy confess your sins. The Bible tells us in the Book of James confess your faults, one to another. That's how we continue. That's how we build each other up. I need you, and you need me. We need one another. We need to talk about our sins. We need to share our life struggles. That's what a family is about. If your subject the imitation of Christ this morning, once you come that's Together, We Stand and sing.