SERMON GM14-015
SERIES: Christian Living in a World of Chaos &
Contradiction
SCRIPTURE: 1 John 1:8-2:2
SUBJ: Fellowship with God
SUBTITLE: The Test of Fellowship (Part 6)
SUMMARY: The Christian life is viewed as a life of fellowship
1A THE CHRISTIAN LIFE VIEWED AS FELLOWSHIP (1:5-2:28)
1B Fellowship is
tested on practical grounds (1:5-2:11)
1C Practical
grounds of moral like-ness (1:5-7)
2C Practical
grounds of confession of sin (1:8-2:2)
3C Practical
grounds of obedience (2:3-6)
4C Practical
grounds of love for God (2:7-11)
2B Fellowship is
tested on relational grounds (2:12-17)
1C The
Positive Relationship (2:12-14)
2C The
Negative Relationship (2:15-17)
3B Fellowship is
tested on Christological grounds (2:18-28)
1C The
Contrast (2:18-21)
2C The
Christological (2:22-23)
3C The
Centrality (2:24-28)
INTRODUCTION
This first section of John’s
letter deals with the fact that the Christian life is to be viewed as a life of
fellowship. We have clearly seen that the Christian life is a life of
fellowship with all other believers and with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have also clearly seen
that our claim to this life of fellowship can be tested, and should be tested. Once
again we seen from our passage that our claim of fellowship can be tested at
least three (3) ways. It can be tested by:
·
Practical grounds
·
Relational
grounds
·
Christological
grounds
A.
Review
Last
week we finished our section on the habitual practice of the confession of sin.
It was important that we examined this carefully and in-depth because it is a
one of the essential element of the test of our claim of knowing God and having
fellowship with God.
Our
passage revealed to us four major principles that enable us to maintain a
practice of regularly confessing of sins.
·
The must be an acknowledgment of sin (8)
We
must admit the reality of sin in our lives and that we do sin. Otherwise, we
have deceived ourselves and we prove that the salvific truth and work of God is
not in our lives. IOW, if we fail to admit or acknowledge that we sin vs make
mistakes, have a problem, have some hang-ups, or ignore our actions as sinful
we prove that we are not an actual child of God.
·
There must be an agreement about sin (9-10)
We
must agree with God that when our actions or attitudes violate the standards of
God, the result is sin. We say the same thing as God. God says it is sin – we
must say it is sin.
·
There must be an abatement to sin (2:1)
John’s
goal in writing was that his readers, whom he called his dear children would
not commit a single act of sin. His goal was for the eradication or extinction
of sin in their lives. John expects true believers to grow and mature and as
they do sin is less active or prevalent in their lives.
·
There must be an advocate against sin (2:2)
Even
though John’s goal was the extinction of sin in the lives of his readers, he
was realistic enough to know that they might sin. So John said if you sin (btw-not
when you sin) we have a helper who has been called in to assist us in legal proceedings
of a court room. We have an advocate who advocates that God actions are in line
with the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. John made it clear that the
advocate is for both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. No believer
stands without a helper when the accuser accuses us before the Father.
B.
Introductory Device
We now
turn our attention to today’s passage. As we do and for our introduction, I
want to share a quote from Peter
T. Forsythe:
"The first duty of every
soul is to find not its freedom but its Master".
Warren W. Wiersbe, The
Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22.
C.
Obedience is the mark of every believer.
As
you know at salvation Christ becomes the master of every believer. As a matter
of fact Romans 6:18 tells us
“Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of
righteousness.”
D.
How is
obedience the mark of every true believer? Why is obedience so important?
E.
Our passage
stipulates three (3) assertions proving that continuing or ongoing obedience is
the mark of a true believer.
F.
This is a
good reminder for us all that as we claim to have fellowship with God that our
claim can be tested by or made known by the keeping of the commandments of God.
[So, let’s dig into…]
3C The Practical Grounds of Obedience (2:3-6)
The
conjunction “and” in verse three shows that vss. 3-6 are closely connected to
this entire section that begins in verse 5 of chapter one and runs through the
end of verse 11 in chapter two. We will examine three (3) assertions in this
section of scripture.
[The
first assertion stipulated by this passage is…]
1D Assurance is derived from the principle of
obedience (3)
“And
by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 Jn 2:3, ESV)
First of all it is an unfortunate truth that many
believers struggle with the assurance of their salvation. Even if you don’t you
will encounter various people in the body of Christ and in everyday life who
are at odds with the idea that they are saved.
This
turmoil usually comes after some great sin or failure that they might have been
guilty of. Or during a painful trial or tribulation they “loose that sense of
assurance.”
What does John say about assurance?
First of all – John equates “knowing” God with the fact of having
fellowship with God.
Second
– John clearly shows the absolute marriage of the idea of true spiritual
knowledge of God with obedience to the will of God.
John is
not shy about this concept. In the Greek language that John used our assurance
is derived from this unbreakable bound between these two principles.
This
assurance is a natural product of these principles knowledge will result in
obedience and obedience results from knowledge.
John
uses the word ginwskw. As a matter of fact John will use this word some
twenty-five (25) times in this letter. The root form means “to know.”
This word
gives us the idea of personal knowledge that is gained or has been gained
through observation, experience, and instruction.
John’s
use in this verse – by this we know that we have come to know him provides
absolute knowledge. John uses the present tense and the perfect tense showing
that we have a continued or ongoing assurance that we have actually entered
into an ongoing relationship with God.
John
wants to comfort his readers by giving them the means by which they can know
for certain that they know God.
Don’t
forget the Gnostics, the false teachers were running around claiming to have a
“mystical” knowledge of God known only to them and those “initiated” in their little
group.
Now
John uses the word “if” – “if we keep his commandments – giving the grounds or
the principle making assurance true and valid.
The
word if was chosen and used because it shows that this claim is conditional.
This claim of knowing God or being a Christian may not be true of everyone who
claims to know God or claims to be a Christian.
The
phrase actually is a call or a challenge that everyone who claims to know God
should examine themselves to discover whether he meets or fulfills the
condition.
Now,
the plural form of “commandments” simply draws our attention to the various
commands or precepts that God has made known to us.
The
word “keep” is a present tense verb. It is used by John to show us that the
“keeping” of God’s commandments is an on-going, habitual, or continuing
practice.
It
excludes periodic or rare moments of obedience or no obedience at all.
The
keep is actually an interesting word. Within the word is the idea of a very
watchful and very involved or committed concern to obey whatever God has
commanded.
The
reason that this assurance is derived from this principle – a Christian is
obedient – is known by the fact that the person who has been made a Christian
by the HS applying the work of Christ to their soul has within himself a
growing love for and a growing desire to obey the commands of God.
Alfred Plummer wrote this, “There is only one way of proving to
ourselves that we know God, and that is by loving obedience to His will.” [1]
So, we can maintain absolute
assurance that our fellowship or relationship with God is valid because that assurance
is founded on a solid principle.
This assurance is derived
from the principle that knowledge equals obedience.
Our theme this morning is
that obedience is the mark of the true Christians.
This is a good reminder for
us all that as we claim to have fellowship with God that our claim can be
tested by or made known by the keeping of the commandments of God.
[The second assertion
stipulated by our passage is found in verse 4. This assertion is that…]
2D An Assumption is discovered by the poverty
of obedience (4)
“Whoever
says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth
is not in him.” (1 John
2:4, ESV)
John turns the tables a bit here. He is still driving
his point home but now from a negative view point.
John’s
use of “If” places the emphasis on the hypothetical claim that is being made.
The grammar puts the attention on the person who is making the claim that he
knows Christ. He claims to know God but in reality he is a liar and is void of
the truth.
The
phrase “does not keep” should really read “is not keeping.” This person at the
very time he is claiming to know God is not keeping or obeying the commands of
God.
This is
why you cannot point backwards to a date, place, or event such as walking an
aisle or raising your hand or even praying a prayer for assurance of your
salvation. The assurance is derived from the principle of present tense keeping
God’s commandments.
If
you want assurance look and see what it is you are doing right now? This is why
the assumption can be made or discovered that a person is really a liar with no
truth in him because he or she is not at the current time keeping the
commandments of God.
When there is a clear contradiction
between your profession and your practice the assumption can be made that you
are a liar.
The
claim is false. The wording in the Greek is actually a bit stronger it reads, “A
liar he is.” It is emphatic.
Salvation changes a person.
True salvation gives us different loves, motivations, desires, world-view,
attitudes, and perspective.
Yes sometimes these things
grow ever so slowly in some people. We don’t all grow the same or at the same
pace. But we cannot say that we know God and have a life of continuing and
habitual disobedience.
So, we can maintain absolute
assurance that our fellowship or relationship with God is valid because
assurance is founded on a solid principle. This assurance is derived from the
principle that knowledge equals obedience.
And we validate an assumption
discovered by the poverty or lack of obedience.
Our theme this morning is
that obedience is the mark of the true Christians.
This is a good reminder for
us all that as we claim to have fellowship with God that our claim can be
tested by or made known by the keeping of the commandments of God.
[There is a third assertion stipulated
by our passage. This third assertion shows that there is…]
3D An application determined by the practice
of obedience (5-6)
“…but
whoever keeps his word…” (5a)
Literally
this reads “but he who if he may be keeping his word.”
It is
used because it is impersonal and very general. Meaning it includes every and
all genuine believers.
This
individual is characterized or is known by his practice. This individual keeps
and continues to keep or to practice God’s commandments.
As far
as I can tell there is no significance to the fact that John has used the word
commandments and now the word for word.
The
“truth” the “commandments” and the “word” are the same words for the same
thing.
So,
this individual, the one spoken of in verses 5-6 is marked by his everyday
obedience to God’s known will.
“…in
him truly the love of God is perfected.”
This is a difficult phrase. It can have a couple of
different meanings. Its meaning hinges on the words “of God.” This can be objective or it can be subjective.
If it
is meant to be understood as objective, then it could mean that the man who is
consistently obedient, thus truly saved, his love for God is perfected.
If it
is meant to be understood as subjective, then it could mean that God’s love for
those who keep and are keeping his commandments is perfected.
Plummer
and Kistemaker just to name a couple of my favorite dead guys think it is meant
to be understood as subjective.
The translators of the NIV took it that way
and they translated the phrase as “God’s love is truly made complete in him
(the one who is keeping and continues to keep his commandments.
Hiebert
another favorite of mine says that if you look at the parallel in verse 4-5 –
God’s truth is not in him and God’s love is in him – give us a clue.
He says
that truth and love originate in God but they do originate in man, so he thinks
that the subjective is the only way it can be taken.
A Lutheran
named Lenski says that only in 5:3 does the context of the passage require a
sense of our love for God. He says everywhere else in John’s letter God’s love
for us is referenced.
When
you look at the meaning of the word perfected this seems to be right. The basic
meaning of perfected is “to bring to an end, to bring to its goal.”
The passive
voice of the verb indicates that the believer’s characteristic obedience to
God’s will has brought God’s love to its goal in the believer.
So, God’s
love for the individual that practices and continues to practice obedience
having reached its intended purpose in the believer continues to vitalize the
experience of fellowship in his life.
“By
this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk
in the same way in which he walked.”
This phrase “by this we may
know that are in him” is a difficult phrase and can be difficult to pin down.
First – This phrase can be
taken to be attached to what has just been written or it can be attached to
what is about to be written. If it is attached to verse 5 then it seems John
has concluded his discussion of obedience as a sign or evidence of true faith.
If it is to be attached to verse
6 then if may introduce a second “sign” of assurance that fellowship with God
is being maintained.
I think it goes with verse 6
and it continues John’s thought that obedience is a sign or indication that
gives assurance to the claim that we know God.
Verse 6 indicates this to be
true and gives us a wonderful application. If you say that you know God and
have fellowship with God then you will live your life the way that Jesus lived
his.
Let’s look at it a little
more closely shall we: whoever
says he abides in him…”
This phrase pictures or
suggest a believer who is actually verbalizing his or her claim of being a
Christian. The verb John uses “abide” points us to the fundamental relationship
of the Christian life. It is in the present tense and it points us to the idea
of an ongoing fellowship with God as the result of actually being “in Christ.”
Our union with Jesus at our salvation results in an ongoing relationship and
fellowship with the living God.
Simon Kistemaker helps us to
see the importance of this when he wrote, “The
verb presents the believer as abiding or dwelling ‘in him’ as the vital sphere
of his life and being. It denotes ‘not a static condition but an active
relationship that endures.’” [2]
“…ought to walk in the same way in which
he walked.”
John’s use of “ought” rather
than “must” makes it clear that the compelling power for such conduct is not an
external force but it is an abiding inner drive that demonstrates what is
claimed is true by the evidence of one’s life.
The pattern is simple. Jesus
is our pattern. A believer will live like Jesus.
The idea contained in our
grammar is that this life of imitation is not a broad or in general imitation
but it is a close duplication of the way Jesus actually lived.
What does this mean exactly?
Jesus is our pattern or a
template. The true or real believer will imitate that pattern or template. So
we must go to the bible and see just how Jesus conducted his life. Once we see
how he conducted his life, we then imitate it as closely as possible. This then
becomes a continuing activity of the one who is truly a believer.
John 13:15 is a clear
illustration of this point, “…I have given you an example, that you also
should do just as I have done for you.” (John 13:15, ESV)
“Therefore be imitators of God, as
beloved children.” (Eph 5:1, ESV)
“Have this mind in you [what mind?] among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus…” (Phil 2:5)
The Gnostics, the false
teachers taught and believed that they could live anyway they wanted.
They indulged the sinful
desires of the flesh. The believed they could “know” God and have a place in
future glory and while living in this life live it anyway they desired
including the engagement in sexual sins.
John says no that is not true
and it cannot be true of a real believer. If you claim to know God through
Christ, then imitate Christ and live the same way he did.
How did he live?
First of all – please
understand John is not focusing on the perfection of Christ. He does not expect
us to be perfect.
Second – John is not focusing
on the miraculous part of Christ’s life.
What is John referring to?
What one thing characterized
Jesus life and ministry while on earth?
He was dependent upon his
father. He never acted in his own strength, energy, desires, or according to
his own agenda.
He came to do the Father’s
will.
He always dependent on the HS
and his power for all that he did.
Listen, Jesus did not do this
miracles by the way in his own divine, godly power. He laid that aside when he took
on human form. All that Jesus did was dependent upon the HS.
That is how we are to live –
never dependent upon ourselves, never independent of God, but always in
dependence upon God through the power of the HS.
So, we can see John’s
application for our everyday lives!
Well, our theme this morning
is that obedience is the mark of the true Christians.
This is a good reminder for
us all that as we claim to have fellowship with God that our claim can be
tested by or made known by the keeping of the commandments of God.
[Let’s wrap this up!]
CONCLUSION
Counterfeit
bills are never made in odd denominations ($3 or $8 or $12) but are meant to
imitate the real thing. At first glance they seem real, you may have passed
them along without knowing it. But there is always something bogus about them,
some blur or omission, something that doesn’t exactly correspond to real money.
Phony
Christians may fool many people: go right places, hang with right crowds, and
say the right things (John says they say ’I know Him’) but their experience is
that of an unchanged life. Unchanged on the inside (Lack a desire to surrender
before the Lord). Paul says, ’they profess to know God but by their deeds they
deny Him’.
SPURGEON: An unchanged life is the sign of an uncleansed heart’.
Exhortation: Pray
for the enabling of the HS in order to live with consistent obedience to the
commandments of God proving you to be His child rather than being a counterfeit
who says I know Him but does not.
[1] Alfred
Plummer, The Epistle of S. John, Cambridge
Bible for Schools and Colleges (1883; reprint ed., London: Cambridge University
Press, 1938), p. 90
[2] Simon J.
Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of
James and the Epistles of John, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1968), p. 258
1 comment:
Well done Gregg on an excellent write and read. There was much I didn't know about John, at school and Sunday school we only touched the surface not the in depth way you wrote this post.
Yvonne.
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