COPC 1 John 2:18-29 What to expect when you are United to Christ

1 John 2:18-29 What to expect when you are United to Christ

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Call Us into His Presence for His Worship

Our Call to Worship is from Psalm 119:1-3

Call to Worship Psalm 119 1-3 “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!”

Please take a few minutes to prayerfully consider this passage.

God's Greeting is from 1 Cor 1:1-3

1 Cor 1:1-3 “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Opening Song of Praise (TPH Psalm 67B)

Let us Pray

Our Father in heaven

We know that we are inclined to all kinds of errors, to so many various forms of superstitions,

and as Satan also does not cease to lay in wait for us,

and spreads before us his many snares

Grant to us Father that we may be preserved in obedience to you by the teaching of your Word,

That we may never turn here and there,

Either to the right or to the left,

But continue in that pure worship which you have prescribed,

So that we may plainly testify that you are indeed our Father

by continuing under the protection of your only begotten Son,

who you have given to be our pastor and ruler to the end.

Who calls us to Worship the true and living God,

and gives rest unto those who labour and are heavy laden;

Who did come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Purify us from all uncleanness,

both bodily and spiritual,

and teach us to fulfill holiness in the fear and knowledge of you

That we might approach you with a pure conscience,

Through the Blood of your Son and our Savior alone.

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

We Hear God's Law and Confess Our Sins to Him

Exodus 20:1-17 “

English Standard Version Chapter 20

20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Turn in your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to page 974

I will read question 82 of the WSC

And we will all recite the Answer as our confession of Sin.

Confession of Sin: (WSC 82)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Question 82)

Question 82Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, (but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Our Assurance of Pardon comes from Psalm 103:8-12

Assurance of Pardon (Psalm 103:8-12)

English Standard Version Psalm 103

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9  He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10  He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12  as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

We Respond with Gratitude

Congregational Prayer

Congregational Prayer

Grant, Almighty God, that since you daily exhort us,

and though you see us often turning aside from the the right path,

You are kind Father because you do not cease to stretch forth your hand to us,

and you also continue to wake us up by many reproofs,

that we may repent—

Father grant that we may not be permitted

to reject your Word with perverseness;

But rule us by your Spirit,

That we may meekly and obediently submit to you,

Help us to be teachable, so that if we have not been willing to submit to your correction,

That we may not continue in our sins.

Father help us to heed your spirits correction.

Heal our diseases so that we may truly repent,

Help us to be so wholly given to obey you,

as never to attempt anything beyond the rule of your Word,

and help us to heed the wisdom which you have revealed to us,

not only by Moses and your prophets,

but also by your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

father we pray for the congregation

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Offerings

We now have the opportunity to Give back to the Lord in our Tithes and Offerings

The Lord Says in

2 COr 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Deacons would you please take up the the offering.

We Prepare to Hear God Speak through the Bible

Would you Rise for the Singing of Gods Word

Our Song of Preperation is Psalm 53 in you TPH

Song of Preparation (TPH Psalm 53)

Please be seated

Our Scripture Reading is from 1 John 2:18-29

thats 1 John 2:18-29

And Our Sermon title is:

What to Expect when you are United to Christ

Keep that in mind as we read the text

HEAR NOW THE VERY WORD OF GOD

1 John 2:18-29 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

*The grass withers the flower fades but the Word of our God shall stand forever

Today's HP is “WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR UNITED TO CHRIST”

We first will focus in on vs 18-19 which I have given a subtitle of

Vs. 18-19 Identification with Jesus Christ

Verses 18-19 Say

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.

Lets first start with a time frame that this text was written.

TIME FRAME

1 John is thought to be written sometime between AD 60 and AD 110

And these Anti Christ that have come are those who are teaching doctrines contrary to Christ being our redeemer.

And so shortly after the death of Christ when he was crucified which is roughly between the years 30-33 A.D. according to most scholars.

So this is happening maybe 30 to 50 years after the Crucifixion of Christ.

So not much time has past and already some people in the visible church are being considered antichrist because they are doing what?

They are teaching things contrary to what Christ taught and the apostles taught.

You may say how do I know that.

Well by their actions.

It is important to watch what people do according to 1 John remember.

What they do is what they believe.

Remember what we learned earlier in this chapter 1 John 2:3-5

English Standard Version Chapter 2

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

Those who keep Gods commands although not perfectly will continue to follow Christ.

So what am I getting at you might ask?

verse 19 says

English Standard Version Chapter 2

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

They forsook the assembly of the people of God.

They were breaking away from the true church because they were going after a God of their own imagining.

They were against Christ.

They were against the truth.

They hated the law giver and sought to make up a God of their own choosing contrary to the Word of God.

Verse 19 says They WENT OUT FROM US, THEY WENT OUT FROM US.

Hebrews 10:25 gives us further revelation on those who would leave the church to trample underfoot the Son of God.

Hebrews 10:25 says

English Standard Version Chapter 10

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

And so the Lord was judging these false converts these Anti christs.

APPLICATION

People who forsake the assembly of the saints after being instructed in the commandments to assemble are by their actions acting like antichrists.

People who say I can do church on my own are acting like theses people who John is describing as antichrists.

People who say the Bible is not the word of God today are antichrists.

People who say Christ was only a good man are anti christs.

And if these people continue in this path of thinking .

They are against Christ

They are going down a path of destruction.

And they need to cry out to God save me Jesus I am a miserable sinner.

I tried to subvert your word.

I went after my own ways and not your ways.

These people need Christ and you know this and I know this.

But how is it that anyone can know this?

Because we have the experience and knowledge of being in Christ.

I have titled vs 20-21 as

Vs. 20-21The experience of being in Christ

Verses 20 and 21 tell us why we know our need for Christ and his church.

And why we love his people and are gathering together with his body.

20-21 says

English Standard Version Chapter 2

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Christ has anointed us by His Holy Spirit and because of it we now can actually desire to conform our lives to Christ.

Either you have been anointed by the Christ.

Or You are an Anti Christ.

Either you love Christ and have a true knowledge of Him

Or you are an Anti Christ.

Either you believe what John is writing to these saints. And you believe it to be the Truth.

Or you are an Anti Christ.

The experience and knowledge of Being in Christ is not something true believers will ever let go.

1 Peter 1:13-16 says Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

So those who believe in Christ will know the truth and you will be able to spot a lie.

We will be conformed to Jesus Christ

So what does conformity to Jesus Christ look like?

Lets look at vs- 22-25 which I have entitled Conformity to Jesus Christ

Vs. 22-25 Conformity to Jesus Christ

English Standard Version Chapter 2

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

What is he hetting at when he says

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

For these believers it would of been what the apostles were teaching and the Old Testament taught because that is what they had at their point in History.

And they had to believe that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God the one who who was promised.

The Messiah

The one who not only went to the Cross and died for you your sins and all that call on Christs sins through his His Passive obedience.

The One who said your will Father and not mine Father,

In Matt 26:39 “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.””

No One can deny that God the Son Jesus Christ did the will of God the Father on the cross.

Christ spilt his blood because it was the Will of the Father to Crush him.

Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

So it it pleased the Father to crush the son to forgive the sins of all these who Confess the Son in 1 John.

What also must we confess and not deny?

We must confess that Christ not only died for us but he ever lives to make intercession for us.

Thats what the book of Hebrews teaches

Heb 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

This is Christs active Obedience.

Christ is at the right hand of God the Father for those who the Father gave him before the foundation of the World.

For those who are abiding in him.

For those abiding in the truth about who Christ is and what he has done

Thats what verse 24 says

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

This is why if you are taught about Christ

And you read your Bibles

And you are taught and understand the truths of Scripture “Know your Shorter Catechism

Know what the Westminster Shorter Catechism Says

What is effectual Calling

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 31

Question 31

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’ s Spirit, (2 Tim. 1:9, 2 Thess. 2:13–14) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, (Acts 2:37) enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, (Acts 26:18) and renewing our wills, (Ezek. 36:26–27) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (John 6:44–45, Phil. 2:13)

If we memorize these truths we will be able to know a lie when it is brought before us.

Why is this?

It is BECAUSE OF GOD ‘s Spirit....

God’s Spirit enlightens our minds in the the knowledge of Christ.

Gods Spirit renews our Wills

Gods Spirit persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered in the Gospel.

It is all a work of the Holy Spirit that we know the truth.

And that is why John is comforting the believers of his day saying

“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

We are to love the truth

And we are to hate the lie and the liar.

And what are they lying about?

Verses 22-25 state

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

The truth of Scripture is that Jesus is the Christ.

They are leaving because they don't believe Jesus is the Christ.

They deny the Father and the Son.

And if you deny the Son you don’t have the father according to verse 23

They are liars according to verse 22

APPLICATION

Who are our modern day liars who deny Christ is the Son of God.

Mormons - Those who lie about who Christ is and pretend to have further revelation about him.

Jehovah witnesses - they deny Christ is a deity.

Non Messianic Jews - Jews that don’t believe Christ has come.

Fill in the blank with whatever other cult is out there

IF THEY DENY JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD

THEY ARE liars

And their headed to hell.

Unless they turn to Christ

Becasue according to verse 25 The promise is Eternal life only to those who believe.

AND WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST

Next in verses 26-27 the text speaks about “Righteousness in Christ

Vs. 26-27 Righteousness in Christ

Why is John writing these things verse 26-27 states

English Standard Version Chapter 2

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Don’t be deceived

And this anointing, this New Birth, this new life. ABIDES WITHIN YOU.

If something is inside me

know one can take it from me.

And if something is inside you

know one can take it from you.

And this anointing is such according to verse 27

That you don’t even need to be instructed regarding Christ being the Messiah.

You know it, If you are his

And you Don’t know it

If you are not his.

APPLICATION

Do you remember the day the month or the year that the Holy Spirit gave you this Truth that Christ was the Messiah.

I remember it clearly “ONE MINUTE I DENIED CHRIST” and 1 minutes later “ I EMBRACED CHRIST BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT WOKE ME UP FROM MY SIN DARKENED EYES.

ONE MINUTE I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIM

AND THE NEXT MINUTE I KNEW THAT Christ paid the penalty for my sins.

That Christ called me out of the World into his wonderful light.

And when you think back on that point in time it just brings a smile to your face and you feel your spirit stir within you knowing that you are a child of God.

I am so grateful for the Lord and the promise of eternal life.

And for you that have been brought up in the church and can’t remember a time in your life that you didn’t believe that Jesus was the Christ.

Then praise God for his great Work in you as well.

Lets look at another text in Ephesians 1:3-10

Lets turn in our Bibles to Ephesians 1:3-10 to read about how he lavished upon us this wisdom and insight

The Word of God Says

Ephesians 1:3-10

English Standard Version Chapter 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The righteousness of Christ Dwells in you brothers and sisters

And we should have confidence in this knowledge according to John

Verses 28-29 say

English Standard Version Chapter 2

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

John says we should have confidence if we know him

If we desire him.

If we are practicing righteousness “ Not forsaking the assembling of the saints”

Not denying that Jesus is the Christ”

Then we are righteous because Christ is righteous and has made us so through his spirit.

John says when Christ APPEARS WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT SHRINK BACK.

SHRINK BACK FROM WHAT?

CHRIST WILL APPEAR ONE DAY AT THE FINAL JUDGEMENT?

What will this look like

What shall immediately follow the Resurrection?

Lets look at question 88 in or WLC on page 949 in your TPH

The Westminster Larger Catechism Question 88

Question 88

What shall immediately follow after the resurrection?

Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men; (2 Pet. 2:4,6–7,14–15, Matt. 25:46) the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord. (Matt. 24:36,42,44)

Now why would someone shrink back?

You would only shrink back if you are not found in the Lord

Only if they Deny that Jesus is the Christ

What will happen to the wicked at the day of judgement?

The Westminster Larger Catechism Question 89

Question 89

What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?

At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ’ s left hand, (Matt. 25:33) and, upon clear evidence, and full conviction of their own consciences, (Rom. 2:15–16) shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them; (Matt. 25:41–43) and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil and his angels for ever. (Luke 16:26, 2 Thess. 1:8–9)

So john is not writing to the wicked he is writing to those who are in Christ

Those who are abiding in Christ

Those who are trusting in Christ because he is their righteous king and deliverer.

And they should not shrink back because

What shall be done to the righteous on this day of judgement.

According to question 90

The Westminster Larger Catechism Question 90

What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?

At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, (1 Thess. 4:17) shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, (Matt. 25:33, Matt. 10:32) shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, (1 Cor. 6:2–3) and shall be received into heaven, (Matt. 25:34,46) where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery; (Eph. 5:27, Rev. 14:13) filled with inconceivable joys, (Ps. 16:11) made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels, (Heb. 12:22–23) but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thess. 4:17–18) And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

HP - SO WHAT ARE WE TO EXPECT IF WE ARE UNITED TO CHRIST?

That was what I said the main point of this text was.

Vs. 18-19 We will identify with Jesus Christ

Vs. 20-21We will experience being in Christ

Vs. 22-25 We will seek and have Conformity to Jesus Christ

Vs. 26-29 We will have Righteousness in Christ

So We should not shrink back because we are righteous because of Christ

And will be sinless with Christ at his return

And will be made perfect, Holy, and happy both in body and soul with a company of innumerable saints and holy angels.

That is more that you can number.

This is why John tells us we should not Shrink Back.

Because we are righteous in Christ

now and at his return.

So let us keep our eyes fixed on him

The author and finisher of our faith

the Messiah

Christ Jesus the Son of God Amen.

Let us Pray

CLOSING PRAYER

Father I pray that those who have heard your call to walk in truth and in the light of Christ will turn to you.

And that we will learn to daily Abide in you until we meet you face to face at the end of our lives.

I pray that we would learn to recognize those antichrists in our midst and to reject any and all false teaching of them.

Help us lord to Cling to the truth that you are the Christ.

The one who has called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light.

Help us to trust not in our own merits or works but to rather abide in you Christ

And to Know “WHAT TO EXPECT KNOWING WE ARE UNITED TO YOU CHRIST.

IN Christ name AMEN.

Let us Rise for the Singing of Gods Word

TURN IN YOUR TPH to Psalm 54

Hymn of Response: (TPH Psalm 54)

LET us now turn in our TPH to page 851 thats page 851 to recite the apostles Creed together.

Apostles Creed (together ) page 851

Turn now to number 463 in your TPH to sing our Song of Thanksgiving

Song of Thanksgiving 463 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

We Leave God's Presence to Serve Him and Others

Prayer:

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Doxology: TPH 567