Sermon Tone Analysis

Why does the world need a Savior?

Why do we need an advocate?

Why must there be a propitiation (2:2)?

The answer is sin.

Humanity has a sin problem.

(Romans 3:23)

Of course, not everyone agrees with that sin is a problem.

In 1973 psychologist Karl Menninger shocked modern understanding with his book entitled Whatever Became of Sin?

Sin?

What a quaint and outdated idea.

In this book Menninger provided a devastating critique of modern-day preaching and the noticeable absence of the “S” word: “sin.”

In a chapter titled, “The Disappearances of Sin: An Eyewitness Account,” Menninger wrote,

In all of the laments and reproaches made by our seers and prophets, one misses any mention of “sin,” a word which used to be a veritable watchword of prophets.

It was a word once in everyone’s mind, but now rarely if ever heard.

Does that mean that no sin is involved in all our troubles—sin with an “I” in the middle?

Is no one any longer guilty of anything?

Guilty perhaps of a sin that could be repented and repaired or atoned for?

Is it only that someone may be stupid or sick or criminal—or asleep?

Wrong things are being done, we know; tares are being sown in the wheat field at night.

But is no one responsible, no one answerable for these acts?

Anxiety and depression we all acknowledge, and even vague guilt feelings; but has no one committed any sins?

Where, indeed, did sin go?

What became of it?

(Whatever Became of Sin?, 13)

Menninger went on to explain,

The very word “sin,” which seems to have disappeared, was a proud word.

It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word.

It described a central point in every civilized human being’s life plan and life style.

But the word went away.

It has almost disappeared—the word, along with the notion.

Why? Doesn’t anyone sin anymore?

Doesn’t anyone believe in sin? (Ibid., 14)

He then declares that what is new about our hostility toward talking about sin is really the words we use to talk about it:

It is surely nothing new that men want to get away from acknowledging their sins or even thinking about them.

Is this not the religious history of mankind?

Perhaps we are only more glib nowadays and equipped with more euphemisms.

We can speak of error and transgression and infraction and mistakes without the naïve exposure that goes with serious use of that old-fashioned pietistic word “sin.”

(Ibid., 24)

Obviously sin is not a popular subject in our day.

People will go to great lengths to hide it, rationalize it, or deny it.

But we must understand that when they deny their sin they call God a liar.

They challenge His Word and question His character.

The apostle John has an altogether different understanding both of sin’s severity and a Savior’s necessity.

He recognized the danger of calling God a liar and warns his “little children” (2:1) to be on alert.

Find out what a person believes about Jesus and what he thinks about sin, John says.

It will tell you a lot.

To think correctly about Jesus, you must think correctly about sin.

When you see sin for what it is you will immediately see your need—the world’s need—for Jesus as your advocate (2:1) and your “atoning sacrifice” (2:2 NIV).

You will also avoid the error of calling God a liar.

The World Must Know What God Says About Himself (1 John 1:5)

The New English Translation renders verse 5 this way:

1 John 1:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

This translation captures the heart of what John wants us to understand.

We have a gospel, a “good news” message that the world needs to hear.

This message concerns Jesus Christ, who is identified as

“what was from the beginning” (1:1),

“the Word of life” (1:1),

“the eternal life” (1:2),

the Father’s Son (1:3),

the source of fellowship (1:3),

the source of joy (1:4).

This is God’s witness concerning His Son and our Savior.

This is what He thinks about Jesus Christ.

Having met this Savior in repentance and faith, we have a divine assignment that involves the proclamation of a specific gospel with a universal scope (2:2).

This message is for the whole world.

The World Must Know What God Says about Sin (1 John 1:6-10)

In a real sense, the essence of sin is our attempting to take the place of God.

We want to be in charge.

We want to establish the ground rules and lay out the playing field.

And we want to provide our own definitions of what is right and what is wrong, what sin is and what sin is not.

John, on the other hand, is not interested in human opinions on the matter of sin.

Divine revelation will set the bar and establish the truth.

John seems to be telling us, “Let’s hear God’s mind on the matter.”

John rhetorically uses three “If we say” statements to help us see sin as we ought, to see sin as God sees sin.

1. Do Not Lie to Others

Using the word “We” (indicates anyone, anywhere, at any time who takes this position, as well as John himself).

If we say we have fellowship with God—that God is our intimate friend, known in light and life—yet we walk in darkness—in death and all that accompanies spiritual death and darkness (cf.

Eph 2:1–3)—we lie and do not practice or live out the truth.

The verb “walk” is in the present tense and speaks of a continuous and consistent pattern of life.

In essence, we say to others, “I know God,” but our beliefs and behavior contradict our words.

By denying that Jesus is God in the flesh and downplaying the seriousness of sin, we lie to others about who we are.

In contrast, verse 7 says that if we live our lives in the realm of light, as God is in the light, we indeed have fellowship (intimate friendship) with one another (1:3–4), and the blood of Jesus his Son keeps on cleansing us from all sin.

2. Do Not Lie to Yourself

Those who live in death and darkness do not just lie to others, saying one thing while believing and living another.

Eventually they lie to themselves, becoming self-deceived.

Their internal spiritual and moral compass goes haywire and their conscience is, as Paul said, “seared” (1 Tim 4:2)

John then introduces his second “If we say” statement.

Here we discover what appears to be a claim of sinlessness, a declaration that we are free from the guilt and penalty of sin.

This spiritual posture says, “I have no sin and I do not need Jesus as an advocate or atonement.”

John’s judgment on such persons is quick and pointed: they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them.

John’s message is clear: “You say you have no sin, but God says you do.

You say you have no need of a Savior, but God says you do.”

John then follows up with the positive and correct theological antidote in verse 9.

It is one of the most beloved and memorized verses in the Bible.

The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon got it exactly right:

The idea of having no sin is a delusion; you are altogether deceived if you say so; the truth is not in you, and you have not seen things in the true light; you must have shut your eyes to the high requirements of the law, you must be a stranger to your own heart, you must be blind to your own conduct every day, and you must have forgotten to search your thoughts and to weigh your motives, or you would have detected the presence of sin.

3. Do Not Lie About God

It has been said,

The one who lies to himself and believes his own lies comes to a point where he can distinguish no truth either within himself or around him, and thus enters into a state of disrespect towards himself and others.