Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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Conscientiousness
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Tone of specific sentences
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John has just given the prologue: a discussion of the reality of the humanity of Jesus Christ
He had been an eyewitness: seen Him, touched Him, heard Him
Here he opens the conversation about the message of God; the Gospel; living in the light, or in darkness
Two start realities in v.5
To live in Christ is to live with NO DARKNESS AT ALL
To live without Christ is to live in Darkness
He spells out how to know the difference
There is some soul—searching to be done with this text
First, we must pick apart some of the verbiage
We have heard…, v.5
Carries the thought of having paid attention…more than just a noise out there
The Apostles had engaged in active listening; they asked the deep questions, probed for more information...
…proclaim…
From the same root as that of angel (messenger)
A specific message that is being given: God is light
...darkness...
A tricky one…
It can convey the simple idea of just darkness
Or it can carry the idea of evil
We can safely equate darkness in this epistle with evil of some form
sin
Another tricky one:
Can be sin personified, as guilt, as an act, as opposed to righteousness
In v. 7, speaks of all sin
In v. 8 speaking broadly…one having no concept of sin c/f people who acknowledge error but deny sin
In v. 9 speaks on an individualized level.
each and every single sin
We also need to touch on fellowship
…fellowship...
Should have defined this last week…didn’t have the time
Not just a bunch of Baptists around a table with a lot of food…usually with high carb content!
“The act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group” (Lexham)
We mentioned it last week.
The kind of fellowship believers can have with believers
This paragraph has conditional (if) statements, each giving the thought of future potential
“These things may happen”
What our Walk Says
Our talk talks, and our walk talks, but our walk talks louder than our talk talks!
If we say…v.6…but
walk in darkness
We LIE!
This is addressed to the nominal (in name, not practice) Christian “Oh, yeah…I’m a Christian” but shows no evidence
Or may equally address the back-slidden Christian—out of fellowship
The Christian walk should obviously display the evidence of a transformed life
So a claimer who is not a walker is a liar
My story of the ministry official with a vulgar tongue
We should be speakers of the truth…should be no doubt
Comment: business cards with the Christian symbols…Would you trust a used car salesman that handed you that card?
“You can trust me”
An ichthys, on a car whose driver shoots obscene gestures at other drivers...
Don’t tell me you’re a Christian; SHOW me you’re a Christian
Don’t tattoo Bible verses on your body and be in immoral relationships
It should be obvious that you’re a man/woman of truth.
IF we’re walking in the light...
We can have the fellowship with Christ and other believers
…should be having fellowship with Christ and other believers
AND the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sins
An issue of tense…continually cleanses us...
We have a bit of an oddity here…clear it up at Confession
What our Statement Says
This is a short point…pretty well already covered much of it
Our walk should be an echo of our statement
But...
What about if we say we have no sin
We’re not fooling anyone…but ourselves
This addresses two kinds of people
Those who deny sin—as the Gnostics would, we still see this among Christian Science practitioners
Who are only deceiving themselves
Those who believe they are so advanced in their faith, their walk, they see themselves as being beyond sin
Remember Ro 3 23
The falling short is that continuing tense again…continue to fall short
I may have a few really good days..hours…OK, minutes…but I still commit sin
A brief thought, a moment of pride, a careless remark…and I have fallen short of the perfection God demands
Thankfully, the blood of Jesus covers me, cleanses me
What our Confession Says
What’s confession all about?
To admit to a punishable deed or sin
Our word confess is to admit together…that’s agreeing with God that our action has been sinful
Some more tricky parts here
Our initial confession—our moment of conversion—does in fact cover all our sins for all time
HOWEVER, though the price has been paid—by the blood of Christ—and the payment accepted by the Father
Our fellowship has been damaged
We must be continually confessing…in order to have the fellowship restored
Let’s look at David, after having his sin displayed before him by Nathan
Ps 51 1-2 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!”
Skipping to Ps 51 7-12 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Unconfessed sin destroys fellowship
When you see a fellow believer walking away from fellowship, what do you suppose the problem is?
When you find yourself avoiding believers, avoiding church…what do you suppose the problem is?
Status Check
How’s your fellowship
With God?
Are you spending time with Him; in prayer, in His word?
With other believers?
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