Sermon Tone Analysis

Overview #4

 

! First Proof is Obedience—2:3, 5

/ /

A.      Negative – sin must be out

 

–         Not walking in darkness.

1.       Darkness means

–         That a man is ignorant of God – Romans 1:21 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

–         Evil behavior & deeds – John 3:19-21

–         Man’s nature is dark – Ephesians 5:8

–         Man is unfruitful in life – Ephesians 5:11

–         Man dwells in darkness – 1 Thess.

5:4-5

–         The influence & power of Satan – Acts 26:18

–         The place of punishment and hell, the pit of darkness – Eph.

6:12; Jude 13

2.       1 John 1:6-7

a.

If a person says that he is saved & then lives in the darkness of this world, he lies.

b.       God is light v.5; therefore, if a person walks in darkness he does not know God.

3.       1 John 2:9-11

 

–         Not practicing sin.

1.       1 John 3:6-8

a.       V.6

– If we abide in Christ we do not continue to sin

1)       We turn away from sin.

2)       Our desires are to break the habit of sin

b.       V.6

– if we sin, then we have not seen Christ, or know Him.

c.        V.7 – we can be deceived about sin in our lives  

2.       1 John 3:9

–         “/to sin/” is in the present tense and means “to continue in sin; constantly sin; to practice sin; to habitually sin ; to live in sin

a.

We do not reach sinless perfection while living on this earth.

b.

Our love for God & wanting to please God will keep the genuine believer away from a lifestyle of sin

c.        Remember what Joseph said when Potipher’s wife tempted him:

1)       "[There is] no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you [are] his wife.

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

3.       1 John 5:18

–         “/keeps himself/”/                           /“in the love of God” Jude 21/ /

a.       the same word of concern Jesus used in His high-priestly prayer

1)       John 17:11 --   "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.

Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are].

b.       God guards us doing His part, however, we must continue to do our part.

1)       If you practice sin, you will pursue after sin.

2)       If you practice righteousness, you will pursue after righteousness

a)       Sanctified Vessels – 2 Timothy 2:22 – flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

c.

The genuine believer “/keeps himself/’ on guard constantly against sin—Wiles of the devil.

1)                   1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

B.

Positive – Righteousness must be in 2:29

 

–         Keeping His commandments – 2:3

1.       Jesus related the keeping of His commandments to loving Him.

a.       John 14:21 – "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

b.       John 14:15 – "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

2.       Jesus related the keeping of His commandments to His Lordship over your lives.

a.       Luke 6:46 – "But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?

b.       Matthew 7:21-23 – "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

"Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

3.       Jesus related the keeping of His commandments to following His example.

a.       "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for [so] I am.

"If I then, [your] Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them

b.

We are to “/walk as He walked/”

4.       Jesus related the keeping of His commandments to

a.       Loving God completely

b.

Loving our neighbor as ourselves

 

–         Keeping His Word – 2:5   “/keep/” is a continuous action; to continue on and not stop; a day by day obedience

1.

When we draw near to God, keeping His Word, we begin to /establish a relationship with Him./

a.       Just as a boy who meets a girl and begins to draw near to her.

b.

He begins to know her and develop affection for her.

1)       The same with God, the more we draw near to Him, keeping His Word, learning about Him, the more we love Him!  “/Love of Christ constrains me/”

c.

The only way to know somebody is to get near to that person.

2.       If I am in Him, His love is being perfected in my life.

a.

There are those who are easy to love.

b.

Those who are difficult to love.

c.

Those who are impossible.

1)       But I know that I am “in Him” & God is working in my life when

a)       I begin to love those that are impossible for me naturally to love.

b)       Supernaturally we can love those who we can not love naturally.

2)       You cannot mentally prepare yourself to love someone, you will fail!

a)       Only God can do this in you – Philippians 2:12-13

 

 

II.

The Second Proof Is Love—3:14                   /How do we know what we know?/

A.

Negative—1John 2:15

 

–         Do not love the world

1.       Satan is the head of the worlds system—the god of this age.

a.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.