Who do we serve

Well first off welcome

This is our third week in 1 John

I hope you all are enjoy it

I know this can be a very difficult book to go through

I know its super applicational

And it asks a lot of very difficult questions

But questions I feel we truly need to ask

I Got to be honest with you

I truly don’t feel I was saved until the age of about 27

So for years I truly feel I was fooling myself

That is the very last thing I want to do here

I want you guys to feel confident in your faith

Confident knowing your saved

Confident in knowing where you can improve

But most importantly

Confident that God loves you

But today we are going over the 2nd chapter in John

And I wanted to open up with a testimonial

Tell you a little bit about my family

Maybe help you understand why I am the way I am

See my father has been a pastor since before I was born

So Needless to say I grew up in the church

But this isn’t the typical church experience that you may be thinking of

So I want you to take out the idea of little boys in tiny suites and ties

Maybe dressing up on Sunday

Pews

Red Carpets

Get that all out of your head

So my Dad has always had a heart for the broken of this world

I remember as a kid,

Church was more of an experience than it was a church service

First off nearly everyone that came was either

Homeless

Drunk

Addicted to substances

Hadn’t showered in a few weeks,

Looking for their next meal

These were the people that wouldn’t be accepted into other churches

I remember many times the nursery was used as a place to wash the infants

Not necessarily to watch the kids for church

Some of these kids hadn’t had a diaper change in a while

But when it came to dressing up for church

I don’t ever recall doing so

As a matter of fact the only time we ever dressed up for church

Was when we went to Grandmas church

Down in the south in Arkansas

All the other Sundays, it was t-shirts and jeans or shorts

See my dad wanted to keep things simple so everyone felt welcome

But of course this drew a certain type of crowd as well

Downtown denver keep in mind

Right in the middle of the worst neighborhood

I remember just a couple years ago,

My mom texted me on Christmas

Told me they had a great Christmas eve service

Only two fights this year!

Only two fights, in the middle of the service!

But like my mom said,

My dad has gotten so comfortable in these settings

He just keeps on preaching

Even as they’re breaking up the fights

And then there is the handicap crowd that shows up

My dad has always had a deep love for those that are handicap

But

I recall this mentally disabled lady by the name of Gloria

Gloria was always the center of attention

But she would always leave in the middle of the service

But she had to announce it

She would stand up and at the top of her lungs

Yell to my father

I love you pastor Andy

I have to go

Have a great Sunday

My dad without skipping a beat

We love you to Gloria

Be safe

Then he would carry on with his sermon

Needless to say

My church experience growing up

Was a bit weird

Awkward

But it gave me a taste for ministry that never left

As I grew in Christ, I realized my dads church

That’s where Jesus would be if He were here today

He would be with those that needed a hug

With those that are broken hearted

Struggling with sin

Struggling with giving up their former lives

That’s where he’d be

And that’s where I want us to be

and thats what this sermon’s is going to focus on today

So if you would please open up your bibles to 1 John 2:1-14

1 John 2:1–14 (NLT)

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

I am writing to you who are God’s children

because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

I am writing to you who are mature in the faith

because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I am writing to you who are young in the faith

because you have won your battle with the evil one.

I have written to you who are God’s children

because you know the Father.

I have written to you who are mature in the faith

because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.

I have written to you who are young in the faith

because you are strong.

God’s word lives in your hearts,

and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Prayer

I love how he calls everyone out in this section,

No one

Not a single person

Young

old

mature in the faith

Immature in the faith

He’s writing this to everyone

But he opens this chapter with a point

that really hits home

Its that freedom we have in Christ

The assurance of salvation

The security

That mindset that everything is going to be ok

Its a beautiful thing

I mean when you truly think about it,

Since the dawn of man

Every belief system

Every religion

Every faith

Has asked that one simple question

How to get right with God?

John is telling us here

This is it

Jesus is the way

That theres nothing you can do

Other than to repent and believe

And through faith

You’re guaranteed a spot in eternity

With God in Heaven

Its the whole idea

The concept

That your sins

That my sins

That the sin of world have been paid for

Bought

Forgiven

Through the cross

That is a beautiful thing

Its the reason why every Gospel writer

Every author

Every evangelist

Every pastor

Is so excited to share with you the Gospel of Jesus

But on the same token there lies a danger

With what John is saying here

In fact its a question I’ve been asked several times

Kinda goes like this

Christ died on the cross for my sins

So then my sins are forgiven

So then if I sin it’s no big deal

So I can do whatever right?

I like how one commentator put it like this

1–3 John—Fellowship in God’s Family Jesus Our Advocate When We Sin (v. 1)

There are two possible misapprehensions John may be concerned about.

1–3 John—Fellowship in God’s Family Jesus Our Advocate When We Sin (v. 1)

If sin is a reality and it is impossible for me to live a sinless life, why bother? If I sin, big deal. God will forgive me.

1–3 John—Fellowship in God’s Family Jesus Our Advocate When We Sin (v. 1)

As a Christian, I have liberty and am no longer under the Law, so I can do what I want to do. If I sin, God will forgive me.

He has a point doesn’t he

Why are we getting into the weeds here.

First off its the mindset it the mentality of it all

Once you go down that path

Once you get the mindset that sin is no big deal,

You lose focus on the cross

You lose focus on the sacrifice,

the pain,

the redemption

You lose focus on your salvation

On your position before God

I mean thats the entire point of verse number 4

1 John 2:4 NLT

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

It becomes a test of your salvation

It begins to answer the question

Are you saved?

Once you start down that road

That sin is not a big deal

That Christ took the punishment so I’m good

That type of ridiculous mindset

John is saying here,

You are confirming that you MAY not saved

At the very least

that you desperately need spiritual check up!

Its that idea where

You think heaven is owed to you

That Christianity is easy

That its just a prayer that I said one sunday

That I just have to come to church

once a week to pay my dues

and I’m good

That’s It’s no big deal

That I can go on sinning

That I can live my life like I did before

If thats your mindset

You are showing evidence that something is off

Now

I’m not saying you’re never going to sin again

I mean think about it

Have you ever tried to live a sinless life

Tried to resist temptation

I mean true temptation,

I’m not talking about the easy stuff

You know like eating to many cheetos

Maybe that Quart of Ice cream in middle of the night

Or my case

Maybe looking at those Oreos and eating 12 or 13

But temptation that is playing at your very soul,

Temptation that destroys lives

How often do we fall victim to sin in those situations

How often do we succumb to the very thing Christ had to die for

Like I said,

I’m not saying that you’re going to live a sinless life

But that idea that we can just say a prayer

That we can just do whatever

because of the cross

I’m telling you right now,

That is the furthest from the truth

The reality is

The Christian life is one of devotion

One of sacrifice

One that screams humility

One that mirrors the life of our Savior

Why

Because you understand your position before God

You understand you had to be saved

Saved from yourself

Its a Thankful mindset

A mentality of repayment not fear

A mentality of love

That’s the heart

that’s the mind

That John is talking about

Look at verse 5

1 John 2:5–6 NLT

But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Did you get that?

As Jesus did

A life of sacrifice towards others

A life of care and concern for others

That’s truly what I love about this passage

Why I love what is being taught here

Its that to be in fellowship with him

Is to be in fellowship with one another

With his Creation

One author put it so eloquently,

I absolutely loved it

He said

To know God is to know love.

Pure love

Unconditional love

Love that is focused on your fellow man

Focused on the church

Focused on Him!

Look,

What the first and greatest commandment

Matthew 22:37 NLT

Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

What is equal to it?

Matthew 22:39–40 NLT

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

The entire Bible

All the commands of God

The obedience of God rely on these two points

Guys its all about community

It a fellowship of believers

Coming together

To care for

Look after

And place to belong

We’ve become addicted to this idea

That my faith is a private thing

That my faith is something not to be shared

That is a lie

Cause it’s not

In heaven we are going to be surrounded by fellow believers at all times

In perfect fellowship

With God and each other

Its that love that John is talking about

That love that is so evident in so many lives today

That love that people like my dad have for others

But look at what John does here

Now remember he’s already given you the first test of your faith

But now he hit’s it home

It’s like he is playing on the words of Matthew 22

He saying if you truly love God

You’ll obey his commands

What is that command

To love him and love others

1 John 2:9–10 NLT

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

I mean can anyone find this relatable

Anyone ever been in a church where theres a lot of fighting

It feels like this is exactly what John is dealing with

John is desperately

Trying to bring them to a point of maturity

To a point of spiritual openness

But notice what John also does here,

And this one can get hard so buckle up

This one can get convicting

He says here

“Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble”

Are...you... causing.... someone else to stumble in the faith?

Is... your... behavior... resulting in someone else’s immaturity in the faith

And I don’t look at your neighbor now,

Look within

Is your behavior a model

an example

a testimony

to Christ

or is your behavior an invitation for others to sin

I hear it all the time

That’s there business

There personal life has nothing to do with me

I am not responsible for how they behave

I’m not changing my entire way of life because they struggle in one area or another

I understand there are limits to our responsibility

BUT

Guys that American mindset

That individualistic mindset

Is not found in the Bible

That ME Stuff that we are always force fed

That is not Christianity

Active discipleship is an area we are failing at in the church

Yet there is so much opportunity

The apostle Paul thought was so important

He was willing to go vegan to help another brother in Christ

I don’t know about you but that hits home

I love my steak

I love Korean BBQ

I love fried chicken

Thats a sacrifice in my house

If I looked at Sydney right now

Said we are going vegan she might just pass out

For those of you that don’t know

My daughter is the carnivore of all carnivore’s

That would be a serious issue in my house

But look what Paul says here

1 Corinthians 8:12–13 (NLT)

And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.

So when you have a drink in front of a person struggling with alcohol, or when you go see a rated R movie with a person who struggles with porn, are you hurting them?

The Bible says you’re sinning against them

Serious issue

Lets continue

So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

What are you willing to give up to help a fellow believer?

Is your life a living example of what you believe?

That is a part of being in the community

Its different than what we are familiar with

It’s an active love

It a love that requires sacrifice

Its a call to something greater than yourself

You know just this past week,

I have spoken with several people

All of them in pain

Physically

Emotionally

some are just broken,

Some are desperately looking

searching

For anyone to show them love

Show them acceptance

To give them that unconditional peace

Friends that were we step in

Thats what we are called to be

We are his ambassadors to the world

We are his hands and his feet

his body.

Friends thats what we are called to do

To help those people that struggle so deeply

To be that rock in those desperate times

To look at the homeless population

and embrace them

to love them

To look at that soldier thats struggling

And be there for them

To reassure them its going to be ok

To walk along side someones sobriety

To Help a struggling marriage

To be the church!

An extension of Jesus!

An extension of his love

That’s what it is to be a Christian

That Idea that we are going to be sitting around

Doing nothing for all eternity

Playing harps on clouds

Get it out of your heads

I mean think about it,

You are an active participant in God’s plan

you get to participate in God’s plan for eternity

In God’s purpose

In God’s coming Kingdom

And that is amazing!

I mean the creator of the universe

My Lord and Savior

Wants me to walk along side Him

To share in eternity with Him

Thats love

Thats what John is trying to get you to understand

A new realization

A new perspective of God

Remember what i said

**To know God is to know love**

I don’t know about you but

Brings tears to my eyes

To think of what could be

If we each took these words to heart

Focused on them daily

Used them as our motivation to love

Used them as our motivation to serve

Imagine what this world would be like

If every Christian on this planet thought like John

Folks as we walk out of here today,

I want you to start to look outward,

Start inviting people church

Start inviting them to Bible studies

To the graf house

To other churches

Lets build a community for Christ

Even as you leave church today

Turn to someone new

Introduce yourself to them,

You’re gonna see them in eternity

It’s best to get to know them now

Lets become the body

Lets find out where we can do good

Where we can help

Open up the Word

Preach the good news to everyone

Share Jesus with everyone

Love everyone

**** PAUSE*****

You know in Matthew 28 Jesus gives us what we call

The Great commission

These are His final words before ascending to the Father

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Share Jesus this week folks

Share his love

Let’s close in prayer

If anyone would like to talk I am always available.