The Message We Have Heard

The message is quite simply the gospel message of Christ, none other, the message that we received from Christ himself

We have a gospel, a “good news” message that the world needs. As John tells us in the beginning of this chapter, this message concerns Jesus Christ, who is “that which was from the beginning” (v.1), “the Word of life” (v.1), “the eternal life” (v.2), the Father’s Son (v.3), the source of fellowship (v.3), and the source of joy (v.4).

If you have met this Jesus, the one we call Christ, with repentance and faith, then we have a divine assignment to proclaim a specific gospel for the entire world.

There is a message to proclaim

The greek for “heard” here gives the implication that this is about those have have been saved; those who God has called unto salvation; those have heard the gospel of Jesus and understood it, received & accepted it; those who have repented and placed their faith in Him who has given us this message

These people are the people who proclaim the same message -> “we have heard from him AND proclaim”

There are no true followers of Jesus who hear the gospel of Christ and are not completely compelled to proclaim it to a lost & dying world that is headed for hell.

We fall short of this, but there is grace. Sanctification is a process, but this is the expectation.

Why do we do this? Why do we proclaim the message we have heard?

The great commission..duh

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

More specifically because of John says in 2:2

Propitiation: “the removal of wrath by offering a gift” God hates sin, and his wrath towards sin is taught clearly in the Bible. Christ’s saving work on the cross is the only sufficient propitiation for our sin.

To be clear, 2:2 does not imply that the whole world is saved, but rather means that Christ is the only sufficient propitiation for the sins of the world

Romans 10:13-14, quoting Joel 2,  “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (proclaim)

In a world dying and headed towards hell, there is only one propitiation for their sin, only one savior, only one who can save them from their sin and from the wrath of God..

We give ourselves higher priorities, and rather proclaim many other things

Do we care? Some people are stuck between the character spaces of “heard” and “proclaim” and have yet to start telling dying people about the one who has come to save them from their sin

AND; no “might proclaim”, or “possibly proclaim”

There are 16,500 people groups in the world, and 6,900 still completely unreached.. We have a message to proclaim, what are we at Munford Baptist going to do about that?

We start with our community

A part of how we effectively proclaim the gospel, is by living a life that  affirms the truth of God’s holiness

There is a truth to affirm

God is light and in him is no darkness at all

“God is light” = God’s holiness & truth

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? (Ps 27:1)

For with You is life’s fountain. In Your light we will see light. (Ps 36:9)

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. (Isa 60:1)

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance. (Isa 60:3)

The sun will no longer be your light by day, and the brightness of the moon will not shine on you; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not fade; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will be over. (Isa 60:19–20)

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Mic 7:8)

The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:9)

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:36)

I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

“In him is no darkness at all” = darkness/sin

This is a polar opposite of the light or holiness of God, they can’t coexist. The world tries daily to allow this to coexist i.e. syncretism of our culture & the church

First John was written mainly to combat the false doctrines of denying either the incarnation of Jesus Christ (that He came with real humanity and a truly physical body) or the messiahship of Jesus (that He is the Christ). These heresies led to certain false behaviors, in particular a denial of the seriousness of sin.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Is. 5:20

As Christians, those who have been justified for our sin, those who have heard and proclaim the gospel, we are are called to affirm the truth of God’s holiness in every aspect of our lives.

John wrote [this epistle] not only to correct [the dangers they were facing] but also to give positive encouragement about true beliefs and true Christian behavior, centered around fellowship with Jesus Christ.

We are to be imitators of Christ, Paul even tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Christian literally means “little Christ”.

(2:6) “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

What say you Christian? Are you imitating Christ and affirming the holiness of God? Or are you still walking in darkness and bearing false witness of the holiness of God?

“True faith always produces real conformity to Christ.” // R.C. Sproul

This truth of God’s holiness has to be affirmed in every aspect of our lives

Speech

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Proverbs 15:2 “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.”

Proverbs 10:19-21 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

James 1:19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”

James 3:5 “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

Matthew 15:10-11 “And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.””

Actions

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Character/Attitude

Philippians 2:12-16 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Romans 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Integrity

Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

Proverbs 28:6 “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”

Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

Luke 16:10 ““One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Psalm 7:8 “The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.”

James 4:17 “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

The Big Idea

(When we live this way) We are called to reflect his light to the world and affirm the truth of his holiness as we proclaim the truth of the gospel