...and Another Thing....

John has been stacking thought on thought

Connecting the dots a bit differently

Let’s remember that conditional statement,

1 John 2:24 (ESV)

If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

It’s a package, not an escape clause

We have this word abiding…what’s it mean?

What is Abiding all About?

General sense is to remain, stay, reside, or continue

John really likes this: used 21 times in this letter, twice in 2 Jn., 19x in the Gospel

We see the same word in J. 3.36: …the wrath of God remains on him...

Jesus teaches us about abiding in John’s Gospel

We can start with Jesus having a dialogue—a heated one—with the Jews after a Sabbath healing John 5 38

John 5:38 ESV

and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

We can skip to chap 15 and get the vine and the branches discourse in 15:4-11

English Standard Version Chapter 15

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

We’ll run the rabbit trail of those limbs pruned off and burned another time

It is also helpful to understand that we are positionally in Christ, as much of Ephesians indicates

Just in chap. 1, first 14 verses:

…blessed us in Him...

…He chose us in Him...

In Him we have redemption....

In Him we have obtained an inheritance

in Him…we are sealed...

We must note that it is the Holy Spirit who seals us…marks up for redemption

It is the Holy Spirit who is referenced in our text this morning

Now, to our outline!

Warning

Part of John’s work to keep the sheep away from the wolves; Paul gave that warning to the Ephesians, Acts 20 29

Acts 20:29 ESV

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Again the interesting tense usage: I write (have written—have been writing...we might add “…and I’m going to keep writing...”

It’s that important: Don’t get sucked into the lies

Witness

The anointing abides…It’s the Holy Spirit who indwells us at the time of our salvation!!!! Baptist don’t like to talk about that…but it’s real

It’s all about the truth

John 16 13

John 16:13 (ESV)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

That’s a tough statement! If true, why do we need pastors, teachers and preacher?

Scripture is clear, they’re given to the church

Believers all too often box the Spirit into a corner of their beings

The very short version…to direct the church…direct believers to the truth

To keep the body cohesive, not fragmented Eph 4 11-12

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:13–14 ESV

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Think of us as causing you to focus on the Spirit who dwells in you—abides in you

We must be concerned with the truth

Check it all against Scripture

Spirit will not contradict Scripture

Don’t get caught by “the Holy Spirit told me....” “…you’re supposed to marry me....”

Don’t let a personal preference become a conviction

Don’t let a personal conviction become dividing line between yourself and another believer

Don’t tell another person he/she is sinning because of a different conviction; e.g., drums in music, does the pastor have to wear a suit....

Worthiness

Fist comes that “not shrinking in shame” part

Remember that judgment we spoke about last week

Gold, silver, precious stones…wood, hay, stubble

When we get to that point of our judgment, are we going to be embarrassed by what we’ve done? …what we’ve not done?

We want to be found faithful—the good and faithful servant of Mat. 23.

Then the matter of righteousness

We’re talking about Christ and His righteousness; our righteousness follows His

Only those born of Him…born again…practice true righteousness

Others may surely do good things; true righteousness proceeds only from God Himself

WITFM

Let’s get this abiding thing down properly—having His presence staying in us as we stay in His presence

We can never be separated from Him; but we can push the Holy Spirit off in a corner of our being

Transition to Lord’s Table