Known

Hey FBA, I am so excited to be with you today and tomorrow.

Has anyone watch any of the last few marvel movies or short series? All about the multiverse and how our reality is just one of the realities that truly exist.

I am always amazed at marvel’s story telling- they are great at creating this universe. The first comic ever was called “Marvel Comics (October 1939)” and from then they have been building stories that have developed and evolve into what we know today.

I love stories that are connected and that have been thought out. That is one of the reason I love the Bible- the unity that the Bible holds from Old Testament to New Testament if unparalleled. 66 book written by different author, over 1500 year and the amount of prophecies that do not contradict but are actually fulfilled by Jesus is incredible. Student the Bible is supernatural and reliable.

We just did a class with our High school about apologetics but one of the topics was: how do we know the Bible is reliable?

Number of manuscripts

Textual criticism

Historical reliability- (2 Kings 7:6). The lack of any archaeological evidence to support the existence of a Hittite culture was often cited as a rebuttal against Scripture. In 1876, however, archaeologists discovered evidence of the Hittite nation, and by the early 20th century the vastness of the Hittite nation and its influence in the ancient world was common knowledge.

Anyway, that is another teaching in itself but I bring this up because, you and I are influenced by history. We cannot change that but we must understand what is influencing our thinking in order to think clearly about what is true. In fact, that is the problem, that as I see you grow up I realized that you have been influence by the post-modern mentality which says the following”

Many postmodernists hold one or more of the following views:

(1) there is no objective reality.

(2) there is no scientific or historical truth. (no objective truth)

(2) reason and logic are not universally valid.

(4) there is no such thing as human nature. (no objective morality)

- While I cannot cover every single one of the topics above. I want to start by reminding you that there is an objective reality and there is an objective truth. So what I am about to tell you is either true or false. So what I want you to consider is, if what I say is true- how will you respond to it?

Main Point: Because there is an objective reality and an objective truth, you can know that you are saved

1 John 5:13 (ESV) “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

1) Known people walk in the light.

a) 1 John 1:6-7 (ESV) “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

b) People will say they are Christians but choose to walk in darkness/wickedness – and this ultimately means they are not Christian.

i) Ex: “if it looks like a duck & talks like a duck then it must be a duck” - if it looks like a Christian but talks like the world then it’s not a Christian (& vice versa).

c) The “light” here means both intellectual and moral truth.

i) If we walk this way, then the blood of Christ has cleansed us from ALL sin.

ii) The blood shed by Christ is sufficient enough to cover ALL sin for ALL people.

d) Do you affirm the truths of Scripture & desire to obey them?

Illustration: Would you follow someone you don’t know?

Following pastor David. I trusted him. I followed him. I knew him.

Why would you desire to follow Jesus if you don’t know him?

2) Known people confess their sin.

a) 1 John 1:8-10 (ESV)“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

b)Confess means:

i) To Acknowledge your sin.

ii) To Agree with God.

iii) To call upon God.

c) If you confess your sins, He is faithful.

i) Be honest about your condition & He’ll remain with you.

ii) Ex: Ever get in trouble & lie about it only to find out that if you’d told the truth you would've been punished less? Be honest. Honesty is a sign of a repentant heart.

d) Acknowledge you are sinful, and yet know you are forgiven.

i) 1 John 2:1 (ESV) “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

If you don’t, this is not a guilt trip. It is an invitation to surrender to Christ fully.

Don’t let the world influence you in believing that there is no absolute reality (heaven and hell), truth (knowledge about God), morality (decisions for your life)

Session 2

Main Point: If you proclaim faith in Christ. Your faith demands to be visible, palpable, workable, and audible.

1) Known people keep God’s commandments.

a) 1 John 2:3-4 (ESV) “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him”

b) Do you see a pattern here? People who say, “I know Him” but do not live it out are liars & God’s truth is not in them.

i) Ex: If I say I know Lebron James but we go to a game & get close to him & I say, “Hey Lebron! What’s up bro?” and he doesn't know me or even acknowledge me, then you would know I am a liar.

ii) My fear is that there are many people in churches & youth ministries today who say, “I know Jesus” & when Jesus sees them after their death, He won’t know or acknowledge them.

(1) Don’t be that person.

c) 1 John 5:2-3 (ESV) “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

i) The Scripture here is talking about a watchful, observant obedience.

(1) Believers should desire to obey the truth which God deems important.

(2) This involves a proactive approach to obedience.

ii) Christians study Scripture in order to understand & obey it.

(1) Obedience to God’s commands looks like this: a surrendered heart, a servant to all people, and the person who desires to know Jesus better each day.

(2) To obey Scripture you have to know Scripture, which means you have to read Scripture.

2) Known people love God’s people.

a) 1 John 2:9-11 (ESV) “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.”

b) You can’t claim to love Jesus but not love His people.

i) Our love needs to be shared with others.

ii) If you’re struggling with where you are with God, then examine your life and how you treat others.

(1) “love God…” & “love your neighbor…”

c) 1 John 3:10, 14-15 (ESV) “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother… We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

i) 3:10 In this verse we find that the children of the devil are those who don’t practice righteousness & don’t love their neighbor.

(1) Some of the most hateful people in the world claim to be Christians, but their lives doesn't show their faith.

ii) 3:14 says we KNOW that we have passed out of death into life, because we love God’s people.

(1) Ex: Give tangible ways students can serve others in your own city, school, & in the rest of the world.

Where are you connected to?