<![CDATA[Faith is the Evidence

<![CDATA[Faith is the Evidence - Sermons]]>Fri, 08 May 2026 07:07:08 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Another Comforter]]>Mon, 24 Jan 2022 01:14:08 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/another-comforter

This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the Recognizing and "Responding to the Indwelling Spirit" series of sermons to start the year of 2022.

Without a proper response to the Holy Spirit, our lives will be unproductive and our service will be feeble. We closed out 2021 with the series “Come Let Us Adore Him” and in the last message of 2021 we said the real spirit of Christmas starts when we accept the best gift of all, the gift who was born in a manger, the Son of God. When we accept Jesus Christ, we accept the gift of salvation, the gift of forgiveness. But that is not all. We also receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us and guide our steps.

When we face the future seriously, we often feel anxious. Particularly, if the future looks fearful and uncertain, and if we are plagued with a feeling of helplessness and insignificance, like we or our opinions don't matter. That is especially true today.

If you think of how anxious we are, just think of how horrified Jesus’ disciples were at the thought of facing the future without the comfort of his continuing companionship.

An audio recording of the sermon is at the end of the manuscript.

You can watch a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/QW-W0JzPQ14

Scripture Reading:

John 16:7‭-‬15 KJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Text: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16).

Introduction

When we face the future seriously, we often feel anxious. Particularly, if the future looks fearful and uncertain, and if we are plagued with a feeling of helplessness and insignificance, like we or our opinions don't matter. That is especially true today with the uncertainty and the twists and turns of today.

If you think of how anxious we are, just think of how horrified Jesus’ disciples were at the thought of facing the future without the comfort of his continuing companionship.

As it said in our scripture this morning and our text, He wanted to diminish their fears and to challenge them to faithfulness with the promise of another Comforter who would be with them after He was gone. The Greek word translated Comforter is paráklētos which is the same word translated "advocate'', or helper it is also used in describing the Holy Spirit.

Toward the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus concentrated His efforts and time on His apostles. He wanted to strengthen these men for the task that was before them. He gave them some exceedingly great and precious promises, including this one in

John 14:1‭, ‬KJV Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

11-14 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

As it says in our text,, He promised that he would give them “another Comforter,” He promised that He would not leave them comfortless.

John 14:18 KJV I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

These were promises they may have been able to understand at the time.

In order for us to better understand the significance of these promises, let's look at what following Jesus meant to those apostles, and to us today.

I. They mean:

A. A call to trust in Jesus Christ.

John 14:1‭, ‬KJV Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

B. They mean a call to a profound learning experience.

John 14:11 KJV Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Matthew 11:29‭-‬30 NIV Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

C. They mean a call to leave lesser things for greater things.

John 14:12 KJV Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Luke 18:28‭-‬30 NIV Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

D. They mean a call that involves the excitement of true fulfillment.

John 14:14 KJV If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Ephesians 1:11‭-‬14 NIV In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

E. They mean a call to partnership and friendship with Jesus Christ.

John 14:13 KJV And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:15 NIV I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

F. They mean a call to serious self-discipline.

John 14:1 KJV Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

1 Corinthians 9:24‭-‬27 NIV Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

G. They mean a call to high rewards.

John 14:14 KJV If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Philippians 3:12‭-‬14 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

II. Jesus invited his apostles to draw close to him.

A. To Philip he said, Follow Me

John 1:43 NIV The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

B. To James, John, Peter, and Andrew, Jesus said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

Matthew 4:18‭-‬22 NIV As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

We become fishers of men too when we execute the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

D. Jesus chose all of the disciples to be with him.

John 15:16 NIV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Mark 3:13‭-‬19 NIV Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

As these men followed Jesus, they experienced a transforming friendship. They prayed together and worshiped together. They watched Jesus and listened to him.

1. They saw in Jesus Christ what it meant to make a complete surrender to the absolute claims of God over one’s life.

John 5:19‭-‬23 NIV Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

2. They saw what it meant to completely forsake sin.

Hebrews 4:15 NIV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

3. They saw the perfection of love in all attitudes, all ambitions, and all relationships.

John 15:10‭-‬13 NIV If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

4. They saw a supreme example of one who was willing to deny himself for the sake of others.

Luke 22:25‭-‬27 NIV Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

5. They witnessed one who was not attached to material things.

Luke 9:57‭-‬62 NIV As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 NIV “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

6. They saw and experienced one who lived totally for eternity.

Hebrews 12:1‭-‬3 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Eleven of these apostles became so committed to Jesus Christ that they could not even consider their future existence without his companionship. For him to depart was totally unacceptable and unthinkable to them.

It was in that context that Jesus continued to tell them that he had to go back to the Father.

John 16:7 KJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

He sought to comfort them with a promise of “another Comforter" who would be their Counselor and Helper.

John 14:16 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

A. Notice the word "another" that Jesus used in making this promise.

In the original language of the New Testament, two different words can be translated by our English word "another". The context determines which of these Greek words is used. Allos is used when “another of like kind or the same kind” is referred to, while heteros is used when “another of a different kind” is referred to.

When Jesus spoke of the Comforter who would come, he used alios. Jesus was saying, “I am going to ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor, another comforter, another helper of exactly the same kind as I am.”

The word translated “Comforter” literally means “one called to walk by the side of.” This had been Jesus’ relationship with his disciples for three years. He had been their Comforter.

B. He said that this Comforter, the Father would send, would be with them forever.

John 14:16 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Jesus’ bodily presence with his disciples had been very brief, just three years, and now it was necessary that he depart. This was devastating to them. But, He promised that another Comforter would always be with them.

C. That Comforter will not only be with them but will be in them He said.

John 14:15‭-‬17 KJV If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

When Jesus walked the earth He was limited by time and space. The Holy Spirit on the other hand does not have those limitations. He is within each one of his disciples, all of us, at the same time.

Conclusion

As we face 2022, with all its uncertainty we must accept by faith the presence of this Comforter who came on the day of Pentecost to dwell in the church.

Acts 2:1‭-‬4 NIV When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

He came on the day of your salvation, your conversion experience to dwell in your heart.

Ephesians 1:13‭-‬14 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

We should recognize,with joy the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence and find the strength we need for living effectively this year.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬17 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With eagerness we should listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice as he speaks to our innermost being as we study the Scriptures, as we pray, and as we see a needy world.

Like I said last week, let's bow down in worship before the presence of the Holy Spirit of God who has come to dwell within each of us individually and all of us collectively.

Hebrews 3:7‭-‬8 NIV So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,

Let us rejoice in the creative and benevolent purpose of this indwelling presence of God. He has come to enable us to be all that God wants us to be.

Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He is present to reproduce within us the character of Jesus Christ which is reflected in the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

With love for our Lord and his people, let each of us decide to cooperate with this divine Comforter and Counselor as we walk through the days of this new year.

Let's pray Lord,

Thank you that the teachings in Scripture are still relevant to our lives today. Your Word is “alive and active.” We ask that the Holy Spirit please open our eyes so we may see anything that is hindering our relationship with you.

Reveal things, people, or attitudes of our hearts that no longer nurture or nourish our walk with you. Please forgive us for the idols we place above you. Forgive us for not honoring you with our whole heart.

Forgive our half-hearted devotion and misplaced affections. Continue to guide us and teach us the truth of your Word. May we not harden our heart when we hear your voice, but rather circumcise those things of our heart that you’re asking us to remove.

May we become more righteous in your eyes. Thank you for your power and strength of the Holy Spirit to begin opening the eyes of our hearts so our devotion can be solely on you. We love you, and praise you and your majesty.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

If you have come to this day early in the year 2022 without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior, this would be a wonderful time to respond as the Holy Spirit leads you. Invite Jesus Christ to come and live in your heart as Savior, Lord, Teacher, and Friend.

Romans 10:9‭-‬10‭, ‬13 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’

Sermon Audio

]]><![CDATA[That You May Know]]>Mon, 26 Oct 2020 03:30:16 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/that-you-may-know

This is the manuscript for the fourteenth and final sermon in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

I John 5:13 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

In the closing verses of John’s epistle, he revealed four things we can know for certain.

1. Our salvation is secure.
2. We can be sure that our prayers will be answered.
3. We are able to intercede for others
4. We are victorious in spite of the power and harassment of Satan

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 25, 2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/I5B8xXzbpGc

Scripture

I John 5:13‭-‬21 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Text:

I John 5:13 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Introduction
The spiritual leaders who, through the generations, have consistently pointed people to God have been those who possessed an unshakable faith in God, in his Word, and in his promises. They knew the God whom they served; they believed in him; and when they spoke they communicated that confidence and assurance to others.

Genuine Christianity is based on a “we know” relationship with God. John uses the phrase “we know" or "we may know", or "you may know" throughout his letter.

I John 2:3 NKJV Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

I John 2:5 NKJV But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

I John 2:18 NKJV Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

I John 4:13 NKJV By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

And he uses this phrase throughout the scripture that we just read, 1 John 5:13-21. We could also use the term “we know so”.

We know certain things about Jesus, so, or there”fore, certain things are true.

In the closing verses of John’s epistle, he revealed four things we can know for certain and like him we should have no hesitation; here was a man who knew and knew that he knew, and so can we.

Here are the four things that John revealed that we know that we know.

Our salvation is secure.
We can be sure that our prayers will be answered.
We are able to intercede for others
We are victorious in spite of the power and harassment of Satan

I. John’s first revelation is our eternal safekeeping. Our salvation is secure (1 John 5:13).

Let’s go back to John’s gospel. At the end of it he declared his purpose in writing it.

John 20:30‭-‬31 NKJV And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

In his gospel, when you read it you will see that John showed how a person can receive eternal life by believing that Jesus is the Christ.

His gospel shows how we can receive it, this letter, 1 John, was written so that we will have no doubt that we have eternal life through Christ.

I John 5:13 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

To the people whom John originally wrote his letters, these words were light to people living in a world of pagan darkness.

“Light” is a favorite word of John’s—used not only in this letter, but also in his gospel. He saw God and light as inseparable. He literally illuminated his letters and gospel with light as again and again he used that symbolism for God and truth.

John 1:1‭-‬5 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

I John 1:5‭-‬7 NKJV This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The believers in those days were surrounded by people whose lives were saturated with mythology and superstition, and who believed in many gods, most of whom were characterized as jealous, angry, and immoral. These Christians were under constant attack; they were opposed, criticized, ridiculed, and persecuted. That is true for us also today.We are opposed, criticized, ridiculed, and in many places, and even sometimes, here in the United States, persecuted.

So obviously, there were some who had come to doubt their salvation, and this kind of pressure may cause some Christians today to doubt their salvation.

A. Against these constant attacks of doubt John shouts with with ringing assurance.

“You can know that you have eternal life!”

How?

Back to;

I John 5:13 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

OK what are “these things”?

First is the settled-sin question.

I John 1:8‭-‬9 NKJV If we say that 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.

He also talked about our keeping God's commandments;

I John 2:3‭-‬6 NKJV Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

He spoke of the love for one another;

I John 3:10‭-‬11 NKJV In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

And he spoke of the witness of the Holy Spirit;

I John 4:2‭, ‬13 NKJV By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

II. John has revealed the fact that our eternal salvation then he revealed the second thing of which we can be certain and that is answered prayer (1 John 5:14–15).

I John 5:14‭-‬15 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

A. This is one of the Bible’s most important statements on prayer.

John teaches three vital things about prayer, the first is that there must be a conviction about prayer. “This is the confidence that we have in him.”

We are not to believe that prayer is just a probability. It is not an exercise to be engaged in as a last resort. We are to believe in the effectiveness of a genuine prayer life.

James 5:16‭-‬18 NKJV Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Second, there is a condition that accompanies prayer.

...if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

He will not answer just because we ask. There is a certain way in which we are to ask—and that is “according to his will.”

Our asking will be according to his will when it is according to his Word.

Matthew 6:9‭-‬10 NKJV In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Third, when we pray according to His will it brings a conclusion.

“And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Prayer, offered according to God’s conditions, brings us what we ask for. As a matter of faith, we have what we ask for the moment we ask. But as a matter of fact, the answer may be long in coming.

III. John revealed another dimension of faith, another privilege that is ours: intercessory concern.

We are to intercede for others. To intercede means that we are to intervene on behalf of them. We know that we can do that because of what I just said about prayer.(1 John 5:16–17).

Let's read;

I John 5:16‭-‬17 NKJV If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

A. These are awesome and chilling words.

In keeping with the context in which John had been writing, we can assume that the “sin unto death” is that sin committed by the unbelievers who were saying that Jesus was not God come in the flesh.

1 John 2:22‭-‬23 NIV Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

We remember this from our messages on counterfeit Christianity.

John. says we are not to pray for them because

They deny the incarnation. They had intellectually received the Word, and like those described in Hebrews 6, they had “tasted” of heavenly things. But they had not become “new creations,”

Hebrews 6:4‭-‬6 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

They had not done what Paul said was necessary for salvation.

Romans 10:8‭-‬9 NKJV But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

These are the people that John says have committed the “sin unto death” and he says that we are not to pray for them.

B. However we can and are to intercede in prayer on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ,

Galatians 6:1‭-‬2 NKJV Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Pray for them to see their sin as God sees it.

Pray for their hard heart to soften.

Pray for them to recognize the kindness of God.

Pray for them to have a desire for God’s Word.

Pray for the consequences of their sin to become clear to them.

Pray for them to be surrounded by people who will speak truth into their life.

Pray for them to recognize that only God can satisfy their deepest needs.

Pray for them to know how much God loves them. and

Pray for them to repent.

We are also to intercede on behalf of unbelievers who are facing eternal destruction.

Unbelievers may believe they are free, but they are in fact enslaved. They are slaves of sin, bound by their sin and sinfulness. Pray that God would liberate them by his gospel.

Romans 6:17 NKJV But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Unbelievers have been blinded by Satan and will only ever be able to see and appreciate the gospel if God works within them. So pray that God would give them sight—spiritual sight.

II Corinthians 4:3‭-‬6 NKJV But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

As Paul said the gospel "it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,"

Romans 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

IV. Finally, John closed this thrilling epistle on a note of triumph, the revelation that we are victorious in spite of the power and harassment of Satan

He said that Christians can know ultimate victory in spite of the power and harassment of Satan.

I John 5:18‭-‬20 NKJV We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

A. In verse 18 John was describing believers, and the phrase “does not sin” is in the present tense.

It refers not to the committing of an act of sin, but to a continuous lifestyle of sin. We will make mistakes and even sin along the way but we will ot have a lifestyle of sin will not be in the habit of sinning. Rather, we will strive toward godliness.
Why? Because we watch over, or guard, our spiritual lives. So that we can be alert to temptation.

B. In verse 19 John said that Christians have a special identity.

“We know that we are of God.”

Christians belong to a new generation of people, to a new order of life.

Here’s what the Apostle Peter says about us;

I Peter 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Often we are in the minority, but the hope of the world lies in the declaration of Christ through us, who Jesus called “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:13‭-‬16 NKJV “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

II Corinthians 5:20 NKJV Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Conclusion

John concluded his letter in a rather unusual way:

I John 5:21 NKJV Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

An “idol” is anything that comes between God and me, any substitute for God. It may be a desire, an ambition, a pleasure, even a friend. As long as anything in my life is causing a blockage of the light form God, I am powerless as a Christian. I am vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. But once the channel is cleared and there is “nothing between my soul and the Savior,” all is well!

Then I can know whose I am because of the unhindered witness of God’s indwelling Spirit. I can know that I know.

(1 John 5:13)“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”.

Sermon Audio

]]><![CDATA[That Which Overcomes]]>Mon, 19 Oct 2020 02:56:37 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/that-which-overcomes

This is the manuscript for the thirteenth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 5:3‭-‬4 NIV In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

In the section of John’s epistle that we will be studying today, John has some probing things to say about faith in the life of a believer. He gives us the preamble of faith—the foundation, the basic premise, the “launching pad” of a faith that identifies one unmistakably as a member of the family of God. Then, John talks about the practice of faith which, speaks of our relationship with God. Finally, he gives the principle of faith.

So today we are going to look at the preamble, the practice, and the principal of faith.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 18, 2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/Th2Ilk8cZvo

Scripture Reading:

1 John 5:1‭-‬12 NIV Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Text:

1 John 5:1 NIV Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Introduction

In the section of John’s epistle that we will be studying today, John has some probing things to say about faith in the life of a believer. He gives us the preamble of faith—the foundation, the basic premise, the “launching pad” of a faith that identifies one unmistakably as a member of the family of God. Then, John talks about the practice of faith which, speaks of our relationship with God. Finally, he gives the principle of faith.

So today we are going to look at the preamble, the practice, and the principal of faith.

1 First, let’s examine John’s preamble of faith (1 John 5:1).

1 John 5:1 NIV Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

A. John has stated a basic truth: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”

In other words, he was saying that those who have truly experienced the new birth are those who not only have given intellectual assent to the incarnation, Christ coming in the flesh as a man, but who also have received this truth in their hearts. They know, without a doubt that Jesus came in the flesh and lived a sinlessly perfect life on earth.

Remember I said a couple of weeks ago that we don't know about the love of God simply because we have read what the Bible has to say about it, but as believers in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the love of God.

The identifying quality of God’s love, which every believer has experienced, is that Jesus willingly. “laid down his life for us.”

John 10:17‭-‬18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬17 NIV So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

B.   Now John’s underlying theme is in the last phrase of 1 John 5:1.

The NIV translates it, “Everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.”

Here is an equation, in fact the greatest equation in the Bible. Loving God equals loving his children!

John is talking about spiritual family love—not love for the lost person, which is a redemptive, compassionate love, but he is talking about a love for the church, love for our fellow believers. John was presenting a complete cycle: When I love God, I love his children.

We have been talking about this love since we have been in the book of 1 John. A few weeks ago I said that this love, that we as children of God should have, is a spontaneous, sacrificial sharing and satisfying love.
Spontaneous love is explosive, filled with joy and overflowing. Love that is not done out of duty but that flows naturally. It's a supernatural reflex, we don't have to think about it.

1 John 3:14 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

It is sacrificial meaning that just as Jesus laid down His life for us, John said, “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. It may not mean physically dying, for someone but it does mean perhaps giving up status or position or comfort for a brother or sister.

By so doing we imitate the love of Christ in our lives. We literally allow Christ to love through us.

1 John 3:16 NIV This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

A sharing love is the kind of love accompanied by deeds!

1 John 3:17 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

James 2:14‭-‬17 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

A satisfying love is the kind of love we have that gives us confidence before God because of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:21‭-‬24 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Because of this we can have “confidence before God”. We have courage, freedom in speaking, and boldness to stand before God in prayer.

2. In verses 2–5, of 1 John 5, John became very practical in talking about faith, the practice of faith.

1 John 5:2‭-‬5 NIV This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

A.  This brings us to a second equation, the first one was that Loving God equals loving his children: the second equation is Loving God equals keeping his commandments.

Here’s what John did. He had taken the first equation—“Loving God equals loving his children”—and changed it from an attitude into an action. In other words, I can say to you that I love God and consequently his children, and I can fool you, but I cannot fool God. But if I “keep his commandments” and do those things he has told me to do in his Word, you can see that, and know that I am sincere. That is faith in practice and not just in word.

Notice how many times that Jesus equates love for Him with keeping His commands in

John 14:15‭, ‬21‭, ‬23‭-‬24 NIV “If you love me, keep my commands. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

Now I want you to look at;

2 John 1:5‭-‬6 NIV And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

B. He said that loving God equals obeying His commands but he also said that keeping God’s commandments is not a burdensome experience.

1 John 5:3 NIV In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

God’s commands are not burdensome. For most people, rules and regulations are unpleasant. We don’t like them; we resent them. But John said there is a difference with the commandments of Jesus. Because his commandments are given in love, they are a delight and not a burden!

Matthew 11:29‭-‬30 NIV Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

3 So far we have looked at the preamble of faith, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”, the practice of faith is keeping God's commandments now in verses 6–12 John set forth the principle of faith.

1 John 5:6‭-‬12 NIV This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

A. The principle of faith in God is based on two facts about Jesus that John referred to by the use of the words “water” and “blood.”

Let’s go back to

1 John 5:6 NIV This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

“Water” refers to Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist at the beginning of his public ministry. By this act, it was declared to the world that Jesus was the Messiah.

Matthew 3:13‭-‬17 NIV Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

From that moment on, the steps of Jesus were always toward the cross. So then, if the “water” represents the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the “blood” stands for the culmination of it all on the cross.

Ephesians 1:7‭-‬10 NIV In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

1 Peter 1:18‭-‬19 NIV For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

So the principle of Christian faith has been dependent from the beginning on Jesus and on his atonement for sin through his blood shed on the cross.

Hebrews 9:11‭-‬14 NIV But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

B.  The thing that we as Christians can shout with confidence comes in verse 12:

1 John 5:12 NIV Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

When we start to exercise and practice the faith God gave us when we were born again, we begin to feel a power and a peace. We can say, “This is really the life!” Why can we say that? Because we have the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, living within us.

We learned last week that the Spirit that is in us is the most powerful in all creation:

1 John 4:1‭-‬4 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Conclusion

Many Christians do not “practice” their faith. It lies dormant within them. As a result, they have no joy. They cannot say, “This is the life!” in regard to their Christianity. They have no spontaneity in their love for their fellow Christians. Often they become miserable and defensive in their Christian lives—sometimes even afflicted with self-pity. The practice of our faith is the overcoming power in life.

1 John 5:3‭-‬4 NIV In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Bible Study Audio

]]><![CDATA[Love Versus Fear]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2020 01:35:54 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/love-versus-fear

This is the manuscript for the twelfth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.

First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.

You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 11, 2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/U5PbAOmxEqw

Sermon Scripture

1 John 4:11‭-‬21 NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Text:

1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Introduction

Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.

First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.

1. Let’s examine this incomparable gift of God to the believer (1 John 4:12–13).

1 John 4:12‭-‬13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.

A. The first part of the gift is expressed outwardly.

“if we love one another, God lives in us”

We prove our faith to the world by loving one another—or, more specifically, by letting God love others through us.

John 13:34‭-‬35 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I may “like” you or “dislike” you; that is beside the point. You may “detest” some of my ways; that, too, is beside the point. The simple truth John has given us is that God dwells in us only if we love one another in spite of who or what we are!

We talked about this the last couple of weeks.

This love is not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to the crowds there;

Matthew 5:43‭-‬45 NIV“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

That’s the outward expression of this wonderful gift, this personal relationship with God that we exhibit or show this unconditional love to others.

B. The second part of the gift is expressed inwardly.

Again

1 John 4:12‭-‬13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.

This inward expression is the assurance that we are the children of God.

How do we know that we are his?

Because he has given us his Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:9‭-‬11 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

When we repented and made this declaration God “baptized,” us into his family.

1 Corinthians 12:12‭-‬13 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Here baptism by the Spirit is the act by which the Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and his body, the church. In other words, it’s conversion. It’s becoming a Christian.

Let's look at 1 John 4:12‭-‬13 NIV again

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."

The verb phrase, “He has given” (NIV), is a perfect tense, indicating that the gift was a permanent one, given to us at a point in the past to be ours forever.

2 Corinthians 1:21‭-‬22 NIV Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Ephesians 1:13‭-‬14 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.

2. That’s the gift, but then, there is the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift) (1 John 4:17).

A.  What do we “gain” in this relationship with God that transforms us and makes us his children?

1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

We gain confidence or boldness. Confidence, or boldness, is one of the most important words in the New Testament. Luke said in the book of Acts that the religious authorities were amazed at the “boldness” of Peter and John.

In Acts Chapter 3 there is the story of Peter healing a lame beggar. You should read the story but to cut to the chase Peter and John were arrested questioned about how this beggar was healed and by what power or in whose name they did this.

Acts 4:8‭-‬13 NIV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage (boldness, confidence) of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Later on when Peter and John were talking to the others about what had happened they all became bold in their preaching of the gospel.

Acts 4:31 NIV After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

And remember as God’s children we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace”.

Hebrews 4:14‭-‬16 NIV Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

This “boldness” is not brashness or reckless presumption, but a “freedom of speech”, so to speak, that God has given believers through the presence of his Spirit indwelling them.

B. Another dimension of this boldness is revealed in verse 17.

1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Christians will have boldness, confidence, “on the day of judgment.” Because of our relationship with God through Christ, we will have no reason to fear judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:6‭-‬10 NIV Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The judgment seat of Christ is something exclusively for believers, as Christ's evaluation of our works on earth. This will be an assessment of what each saved, heaven-bound Christian has done "in the body" since coming to faith in Christ. How has he or she used this life in Christ? What have they done, for good or for evil?

Romans 14:12 NIV So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

We don’t have to fear this. We’re saved and that’s a permanent fact. It’s here that we are rewarded for what we have done since we were saved.

That’s another sermon for another time but the point today is that because of the Holy Spirit in us we have confidence about judgement

3. We’ve talked about the gift and it’s expression in us both outwardly and inwardly, we’ve talked about the confidence or boldness that we have gained because of the gift, finally, let us see the glory of it all (1 John 4:18–21).

1 John 4:18‭-‬21 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

A. What kind of “fear” was John talking about in verse 18?

Is it possible that he was talking about fear at the thought of judgment? No because where there is “perfect love” (and it is perfect because it is God’s love in us and not our own), there is trust, confidence, and assurance.

Let's read that again;

1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so fear cannot survive where there is love.

B.  There is no torment like that produced in a person who lives in fear.

There is a fear of tomorrow, a fear of death, a fear of judgment. And because sin alienates people from God, it is the fear of unbelievers toward a God who they don't know and who they can't call “Father.”

C.  The glorious promise, to those of us who have the Holy Spirit, is that “perfect love drives out fear.”

When we surrender to God and allow God to love through us, there can be no fear. The love of God within us destroys and dissipates fear.

Conclusion

If you are a Christian, you have already received the greatest gift of all— salvation by grace through faith. But have you received the gift John talks about, which ought to be operative in the life of every Christian? Are you letting Christ love others through you, and are you constantly receiving the assurance that you belong to God because of his Spirit within you? Have you gained a “holy boldness,” a freedom to share your faith with others? Are you free from fear because God poured out His love in your heart?

If your answer to any of these questions is no then you are missing out on the gift that God has already given you. You don’t have to look for it, it's there already in the person of the Holy Spirit in you. All you have to do is yield to Him let Him control your life and your emotions. I know that it’s hard sometimes to let go of your emotions, when someone you love and trust disappoints you or slanders you but remember that God loves you and He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you and give you His Spirit so that you can love like Him.

That's the good news to those of us who are believers and have the Holy Spirit. The bad news to those who are not believers is that you don't have this gift that I have been talking about but you can have it. God wants to give it to you. All you have to do is admit that you can't fix your life, you are not sure and are afraid of judgement. Remember the believer has confidence and is not afraid of judgement. What to do? Well here's the answer

Romans 10:9‭-‬10 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

]]><![CDATA[Identifying The Impostors]]>Sun, 04 Oct 2020 23:24:42 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/identifying-the-impostors

This is the manuscript for the tenth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 4:1 NIV “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.

John outlined four ways in which we can deal with and handle the impostors, the representatives of Satan. Those passing the counterfeit bills to Christians and those to whom we witness.

The four ways are

Recognize who our enemies are
Realize our own identity
Emphasize the truth
Preach the gospel

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 4 ,2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/CslRKk3DXHc

Scripture Reading:

1 John 4:1‭-‬10 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Text:

1 John 4:1 NIV “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.

Introduction

Nothing is simple about Satan. This archenemy of God and humankind likes nothing better than to be portrayed as a red-skinned simpleton with horns and a pitchfork to be laughed at and joked about. He feels quite comfortable when he is linked to the Halloween setting, complete with witches and goblins and ghosts. He is equally at home with cultured intellectuals, who smile condescendingly at the “myth” of Satan, regarding him merely as a superstitious carryover from primitive religion.

But the truth of the matter is that “Satan is alive and well.” And in every generation he updates his methods of attack.

However, having said that, we know that Satan has already been defeated.

Colossians 2:13‭-‬15 NIV When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

And we know his ultimate end.

Revelation 20:10 NIV And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

But just as a wounded animal is more dangerous and ferocious than at any other time in its life, so it is with Satan, who has been mortally wounded by Jesus Christ. The death-dealing blow was inflicted when Jesus cried from the cross.

John 19:30 NIV When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

However, although mortally wounded with no chance of recovery, Satan is using every thing at his disposal to keep unbelievers blinded from the truth. He can't possess us because the Holy Spirit is in us but, if we allow it he can sure harass us.

In the scripture that Jean read 1 John 4:1-10 John outlined four ways in which we can deal with and handle the impostors, the representatives of Satan. Those passing the counterfeit bills to Christians and those to whom we witness.

The four ways are

Recognize who our enemies are
Realize our own identity
Emphasize the truth
Preach the gospel

I. First, John said that we must recognize our enemy (1 John 4:1, 3).

1 John 4:1‭-‬3 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

A. Note that John said we are not to “believe every spirit,” but we are to “test the spirits” (NIV).

Now we know, because I have talked about them, that many false spirits exist in the world, and we need to be aware of them.

One is the “human spirit,” which is subject to satanic influence until it comes under the control of Jesus Christ.

We talked about this spirit a few weeks ago when we talked about counterfeits and the counterfeiters.

At that time we identified them from 1 John 2:16 as things from the world.

1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

These things constitute the total of human life that exists apart from, alienated from or hostile toward God.

Another spirit is “the spirit of the world”, or the “world system,” which is dominated by Satan,

1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

This spirit is also called “the god of this world” or "god of this abe"

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Also active in the world are “evil spirits,” or demonic powers, who are representatives of Satan sent out on specific missions.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The angel Gabriel mentioned a couple of them to Daniel.

Daniel 10:12‭-‬13 NIV Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Daniel 10:20‭-‬21 NIV So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

B. What should we do about these spirits?

John said that we are to “test the spirits.”

1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

That phrase literally means “to put to the test.”

Verse 3 is the test:

1 John 4:3 NIV but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Anyone who does not believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh is anti-Christ and anti-God.

We talked about this before too as an anti-Christ spirit—in other words, demonic forces opposed to the truth.

Examples include false teachers, they have the spirit of the Antichrist

1 Timothy 4:1 NIV The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

If they can’t respond like Peter did when Jesus asked the disciples who they said that He was;

Matthew 16:15‭-‬17 NIV “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

If they can’t answer like that they have failed the test.

II. Ok so first we have to identify the enemy, then we must realize our own identity (1 John 4:2, 4).

1 John 4:2 NIV This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

A. Here is the positive side of the test we just talked about.

Romans 10:9‭-‬10 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

When we make the declaration that “Jesus is Lord” we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, born again and become new creatures.

Let's review a couple of things here

John 3:5‭-‬8 NIV Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

B. Verse 4 is a beautiful reiteration of verse 2.

Verse 2 says

1 John 4:2 NIV This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

In verse 4 John said that the Holy Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life is superior to and more powerful than any other spirit in the universe.

1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

So we can say the same thing that Paul said in

Philippians 4:12‭-‬13 AMP I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

III. Then number 3 John said that we must emphasize the truth (1 John 4:5–6).

1 John 4:5‭-‬6 NIV They (the impostors) are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

A.  John presented a stark contrast in these verses.

On one side are those of the world system, whose thoughts and actions are dominated by Satan. On the other side are those of us who belong to God and who are indwelt by his Spirit. God gives us spiritual understanding so we can “recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood”

Those of the world speak false things about the Lord. Satan works in them to oppose the truth about Christ. They are from the world. Therefore, they speak from the world. Their ideas come from the world and from Satan. So those of the world will listen to them. They teach what is false and they lead people away from the truth.

In contrast to the false teachers, we belong to God. The ‘We’ includes all those people who speak the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The true Spirit is God’s Holy Spirit. He lives in God’s people.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

B. Just as there are two sides doing the talking, the impostors and us the redeemed there are also two classes of listeners that hear the truth and accept it.

1.  Unbelievers who yield to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and receive the Word in all its life-changing power.

John 16:7‭-‬8 NKJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The influence of the Holy Spirit in an unsaved person’s life will lead that person to the realization that they are guilty, that God is just, and that all sinners are deserving of judgment. We are talking about just that in our Bible Study.

Once a sinner has been awakened to his soul’s great need, the Spirit will point him to Christ, the one and only Savior.

2.  The second group of listeners are believers who are already indwelt by the Holy Spirit. One of the Spirit’s ministries is to enlighten believers of God’s truth.

John 14:15‭-‬17 NIV “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:25‭-‬26 NIV “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

IV. So we are to identify our enemy, recognize who we are, we are to speak truth and finally, we are to publicize or preach the gospel.

I don't mean you have to be a preacher to do this

A. Here's our message!

Christianity is a way of life based on the fact that even when we did not love God, he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.

Romans 5:7‭-‬10 NIV Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

B. This is a kind of love that we as humans cannot understand.

It is the kind of love that has to be experienced, and when we experience a life filled with this love, we experience God. God who covers our sinful past and seals our future forever.

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul prayed that they could just grasp the depth of that love and I pray the same thing for us.

Ephesians 3:14‭-‬19 NIV For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Psalms 32:1‭-‬2 NIV Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Conclusion

In summary, John has told us that Satan is real; he is committed to keeping unbelievers lost and to harassing Christians. We must realize who we are, and realize that he who is in us is greater than any force of evil in the world.

1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

We must emphasize the truth of God, because that is the truth that sets us free.

John 8:31‭-‬32 NIV To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Finally, we must share the good news that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ”

2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬19 NIV So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

We like Paul can say:

Romans 1:16‭-‬17 NIV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Bible Study Audio

]]><![CDATA[The Proof of Kinship]]>Mon, 28 Sep 2020 01:55:06 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/the-proof-of-kinship

This is the manuscript for the ninth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 3:23‭-‬24 NIV And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Last week we said that the evidence that we are the children of God is that we love one another.

Not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done. The ultimate test of someone's Christianity is whether he or she loves others. This love is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and satisfying. The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from September 27 ,2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/YrJjOSWqtyA

Scripture Reading:

1 John 3:11‭-‬24 NIV For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Text:

1 John 3:23‭-‬24 NIV And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Introduction

Last week we said that the evidence that we are the children of God is that we love one another.

Not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.

Matthew 5:43‭-‬48 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This kind of love has a redeeming quality; it seeks to lift others up and heal their heartache and pain.

John spoke of one’s love for another as “a new command”.

1 John 2:8 NIV Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

Jesus also called it a new commandment.

Matthew 5:43‭-‬45 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jesus also indicated that it was an old commandment when He said that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In fact He said that it was the second greatest commandment and along with the first one, which was to love God, took care of all the other commandments and the prophets.

Mark 12:29‭-‬31 NIV “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

So how can a command be both old and new?

It is old commandment but new in freshness; it is old in principle but new in practice.

The command to “love one another” comes from one of the oldest known laws of God.

Leviticus 19:18 NIV “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord .

But it becomes a refreshingly new command as it is restated and demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

As Christians grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, each new day brings the light of greater knowledge—and at the same time, a new unfolding of the unfathomable depths of His love!

Therefore the ultimate test of someone's Christianity is whether he or she loves others. If we study our Scripture reading from today (1 John 3:11-24 that Jean read for us), we find that John described this love in four ways.

He described it as.

A spontaneous love
A sacrificial love
A sharing love
A satisfying love

I. First, we find that it is a spontaneous love (1 John 3:14).

1 John 3:14 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

A. A Christian’s love for others should be an involuntary, spontaneous act of the heart.

We should not have to say, “I will make myself love my fellow man. They have ignored me, insulted me, and wronged me, but I will love them even if it kills me!”

If that is the way we love others, we are not showing spontaneous love.

Remember what Jesus said, we just read that earlier;

Matthew 5:44‭-‬45 NIV But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

B. In verse 14 of 1 John 3 John said that this spontaneous love proves that we have been born again as God’s children.

1 John 3:14 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Spontaneous love means that we are spiritually alive, born into God’s family with other Christian brothers and sisters. So when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ, we reach out to them in love! It's a supernatural reflex, we don't have to think about it.

II. Second, we find that this love is a sacrificial love (1 John 3:16).

1 John 3:16 NIV This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

A.  When John says "this is how we know" he means “to know by experience.”

We don't know about the love of God simply because we have read what the Bible has to say about it. Rather, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the love of God.

B. The identifying quality of God’s love, which every believer has experienced, is that Jesus “laid down his life for us.”

This was, on Jesus’ part, an act of the will. Jesus’ life was not taken away from him by evil men who pursued him as a hunter stalks an animal,

When they came to arrest Him one of His disciples, probably Peter, drew out his sword to protect Him and Jesus said;

Matthew 26:51‭-‬54 NIV “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

No He willingly laid down His life for us.

John 10:17‭-‬18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Because Jesus laid down His life for us, John said, “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

By so doing we imitate the love of Christ in our lives. We literally allow Christ to love through us, even if it means giving our lives for him!

III. This love that we as children of God should have is first a spontaneous love, second a sacrificial love, and third, we find that it is a sharing love (1 John 3:17–18).

1 John 3:17‭-‬18 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

A. Here John became very practical about Christian love.

He had been talking about such high and lofty acts as giving one’s life for another for Jesus’ sake. Now he introduced the fact that we can show a sharing love to others. These are not necessarily heroic acts; nonetheless, they demonstrate the love of Christ.

1 John 3:17 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

John was talking about those who have “material possessions” or material blessings from God, that we tend to take for granted.

B.  John’s summary of practical Christian love in verse 18 is classic.

1 John 3:18 NIV Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

He is not saying that we should not use kind, warm words of encouragement to express our love to a needy brother or sister. He is simply saying that those words must be accompanied by warm deeds! Every pious, religious word in the world cannot take the place of one genuine act of Christian love.

That's the same thing that James said.

James 2:14‭-‬17 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

I need to be clear here because this is not a license to take advantage of a brother or sister either. If we take advantage of brother's or sister's loving generosity we are not showing the kind of love that John is talking about either. Both the giver and the recipient of Christian love must rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance but if there is any question or doubt always give if you are able.

IV. The love that John says is the ultimate test of our Christianity and proof that we are children of God is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and fourth and final it is a satisfying love (1 John 3:22–24).

A. The Bible is filled with precious promises God has given to us, particularly promises regarding prayer.

1 John 3:21‭-‬24 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

But often these promises are accompanied by certain conditions.

In verse 22 the promise is, “[We] receive from him anything we ask” (NIV).

How wonderful! But what is the condition?

“We keep his commands and do what pleases him” (NIV).

B.  John was not talking about sinless perfection.

He was describing the state of Christians who, as far as they know, have no unconfessed sin in their lives. They are under the control of the Holy Spirit. When this happens, John said that Christians will have “confidence before God”

1 John 3:21 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

They will have courage, freedom in speaking, and boldness to stand before God in prayer. The love of God in them is a satisfying love.

Conclusion

The lyrics of a song state the truth of this message simply yet profoundly:

The hymn is "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love"
Which was written by Peter Scholtes

Lyrics:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus:

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

Chorus:

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.

Chorus:

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

Chorus:

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.

Sermon Audio

]]><![CDATA[Bearing Family Traits]]>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 01:00:04 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/bearing-family-traits

Photo credit: Martijn Rutgers

This is the manuscript for the eighth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”

When we are born again, we receive new life—not biological life, but spiritual life. Just as our biological life is “programmed” into our genes, our spiritual life is predetermined by God to produce certain characteristics. However, just as in the physical growth process certain things such as illness or injury can change development, so in the spiritual realm disobedience and sin can cause us to slow down or even abort the spiritual growth that God wants us to experience. Throughout the New Testament, we find many passages that remind us of the spiritual family traits we should develop in our lives.

Scripture Reading:

1 John 3:1‭-‬10 NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Text:

1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”

Introduction

In our text, John was talking about spiritual family traits. When we are born again, we receive new life—not biological life, but spiritual life.

Jesus told Nicodemus;

John 3:3‭-‬8 NIV Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Everyone who is born again is spiritually a new creature like it says in:

2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬17 NIV So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

And just as our biological life is “programmed” into our genes, our spiritual life is predetermined by God to produce certain characteristics.

For example, here's what Paul said in Romans 8:28-29. We know this but it's important to be reminded.

Romans 8:28‭-‬29 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

However, just as in the physical growth process certain things such as illness or injury can change development, so in the spiritual realm disobedience and sin can cause us to slow down or even abort the spiritual growth that God wants us to experience.

Throughout the New Testament, we find many passages that remind us of the spiritual family traits we should develop in our lives.

I believe that all these family traits are all wrapped up in the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….

These are the family traits of those who have been born again into the family of God.

John revealed four things about these spiritual family traits that God programmed into us when we were born again.

We are children of God.
We will become more like Jesus
We will avoid sin
We will provide evidence that we are children of God

We are children of God.

1 John 3:1 NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

A. John was amazed by what God has done for sinful humanity.

“What great love the Father has lavished on us” (NIV). he said.

In other words, John was saying that nothing else in human life even faintly resembles the love that God has shown to humankind.

B. What is it about this love that so astounded John?

It's astonishing that the Creator of the universe loves us so much “That we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV).

The word “called” here literally means “styled or fashioned.” When we are born again because of God’s great love, the Holy Spirit begins to style us so that day by day we look less like children of the world. and more like Jesus.

Romans 12:1‭-‬2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2. #1 We are children #2 we will become more like Jesus. not Jesus, but like Jesus.

1 John 3:2‭-‬3 NIV Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like His Son, Jesus.

In the very beginning;

Genesis 1:26 NIV Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Ephesians 4:20‭-‬24 NIV That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

A. Now John did used a hint of caution in these verses.

He says you will be, not that you are.

1 John 3:2 NIV Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known…

It is almost like saying “Now Christians, a wonderful thing has happened as a result of God’s amazing love. But we have not arrived yet! Many rough edges need to be smoothed out, many attitudes and ideas need to be altered.”

B.  We know that we are getting there by using God’s word as our spiritual mirror.

We are never flattered, we don't really look too good when we see ourselves in relationship to God’s Word
Isaiah 64:6 NIV All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

But the positive note in this experience is that we are becoming more like our Lord every day. We have no idea what the finished product is going to be, but we do know that we will be like Jesus!

C.  John said that we are continually cleansed when we have this hope that we will be like Jesus.

1 John 1:5‭-‬7 NIV This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, purifies us from all sin.

John says something amazing here. He says that not only can we have fellowship with God, but He can have fellowship with us because through Christ’s sacrifice we have been cleansed of sin which is what separates us from God!

1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We are not to get down on ourselves or to believe that we will be lost because they have sinned.

Philippians 1:‬6 NIV ...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God is going to complete His work of salvation in you. This knowledge and hope within us purifies our hearts and, we are brought closer and closer to that state of purity that is required to stand in God’s presence.

3.  #1 John said that we are children of God, #2 we will become more like Jesus #3 is that as children of God we should avoid sin.

1 John 3:4‭-‬9 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

I'll give you a hint of what John says we should avoid. He used the words sin, sins, sinning, or sinful 8 times in these 5 verses.

A.  Here's another list for you John outlined four things about sin in these verses.
1. He explained what sin is,

Sin is lawlessness

1 John 3:4 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

When you sin you disobey God.

2. He explained what sin does,

Sin leads you astray

1 John 3:7 NIV Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

3. He explained why sin exist

It is of the devil

1 John 3:8 NIV The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

4. And he explained where sin originates.

   With the devil who has been sinning from the beginning

1 John 3:8 NIV The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

Unless we properly understand what John was saying about sin, in these verses, this can be the most frightening passage in the Bible.

But we must remember that the difference between a believer who sins and an unbeliever who sins is that the unbeliever can sin without remorse. Unbelievers continue to sin because that is their unredeemed nature.

However Christians, because we have a new nature, cannot sin without feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7‭-‬8 NKJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Christians may temporarily step into darkness, but because of our new nature, we are miserable until we confess and return to the light.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

B. John now gives us a word of triumph.

I John 3:8 NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, (now here's the word of triumph) that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work, because we are not strong enough to fight against sin by ourselves

Romans 8:37‭-‬39 NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. #1 John said that we are children of God, #2 we will become more like Jesus #3 is that as children of God we should avoid sin. #4 is that we must demonstrate or reflect that we are children of God.

I John 3:10 NKJV In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

So to show evidence that we are children of God we can't manifest the same things that the children of the devil manifest.

D. How do we truly show that we are children of God and not the devil?

The children of the devil do not practice righteousness. So we must do what is right. We reflect a joyful, spontaneous relationship with Christ demonstrated by the “good works” we perform in Christ’s name.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Colossians 3:16‭-‬17 NKJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

E.  Second, we provide evidence of our kinship to God as His children by loving one another.

The children of the devil do not love one another and God's children show that they are by loving one another.

John 13:34‭-‬35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Now this is not just affection for others; it is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.

Mark 12:28‭-‬31 ESV And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

This kind of love has a redeeming quality; it seeks to lift others up and heal their heartache and pain.

1 John 4:7‭-‬12 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Jesus Christ came to earth as the supreme expression of God’s love for humankind.

John 3:16 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Conclusion

Are the marks of Jesus Christ and the family of God on you? Are you daily reflecting Jesus by your good works and by your love for others?

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

]]><![CDATA[Counterfeit Christianity: Its Antidote]]>Mon, 14 Sep 2020 00:59:23 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/counterfeit-christianity-its-antidote

This is the manuscript for the seventh in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

We’ve been talking about counterfeit Christianity. John says that it is the things in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Last week we talked about the results of counterfeit Christianity which is the denial that Jesus is the God-man, born of a virgin, who was crucified for our sins and rose the third day to overcome death. Today I want to talk about the the antidote to Counterfeit Christianity. It consist of three ingredients, the Word, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the second coming of Jesus.

I John 2:24 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from September 13,2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/G7LtSVL38hY

Scripture

I John 2:24‭-‬29 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Text

I John 2:24 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Introduction

We’ve been talking about counterfeit Christianity. John says that it is; the things in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life

I John 2:15‭-‬17 NKJV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Last week we talked about the results of counterfeit Christianity which is the denial that Jesus is the God-man, born of a virgin, who was crucified for our sins and rose the third day to overcome death.

Today I want to talk about the “The Antidote To Counterfeit Christianity

The temptation to be faithless is the number one problem among Christians—and it always has been. This is the counterfeit Satan has so successfully perpetrated in a variety of ways among believers.

He often uses other people in his determination to weaken a Christian’s faith. He seizes vulnerable people, deceives them, and victimizes them by counterfeiting spiritual realities.

We talked about those people last week.

I John 2:19 NKJV 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 they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Satan's approach is always based on what isisn false and misleading. John identified the counterfeit and the counterfeiter.

I John 2:22‭-‬23 NKJV Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

The greatest lie Satan has ever perpetrated is that Jesus is not Christ, God's Anointed One. He tries to spread this lie in many ways. In our day, he takes the intellectual, rational approach by denying the virgin birth of Christ, or saying things like "how can Christ be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit at the same time? How can He be both the Son and the Father".

One person Satan uses is the cynic, who raises doubts in the Christian’s mind.

This person has the syrupy “Did God really say . . . ?” which is the same approach Satan used with Eve.

Genesis 3:1 NIV Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

That’s the cynic.

Then there is the hypocrite who looks like a Christian and talks like a Christian but whose conduct is inconsistent. There is a book “The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel, that describes a Christian Atheist as a person who believes in God but lives as if He doesn’t exist. That is a characteristic of a hypocrite.

Satan also uses popular ideas to distort the truth. For example, things like “One religion is just as good as another as long as you are sincere.” Or, “You have to be realistic. The Bible doesn’t always mean what it says.” Or, “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.”

John gives some antidotes, or ways to counteract the problem of faithlessness.

1. The first antidote John gives is the Word of God

I John 2:24‭-‬26 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—etem.h dornal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

How does Jesus become real to a new believer?

Through Scripture!

What are some of the first, basic truths we learn?

A. That Jesus is God’s Son

John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:16‭-‬18 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

B. He died on a cross for our sins and rose the third day,

Luke 24:46‭-‬47 NIV He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 15:3‭-‬4 NIV For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

We learn this from scripture, God's Word

C. We also learn from scripture that He promised to return to receive us unto himself.

John 14:1‭-‬4 NIV “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

D. Along with these great truths, in Scripture, is the amazing realization that God knows us by name

Psalms 139:1‭-‬7 NIV You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

E. And we learn from Scripture that God is always available to hear our prayers and answer them according to his will.

I John 5:14‭-‬15 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

But it doesn’t take long for Satan to start whispering doubts to a young Christian. To try to undermine the antidote.

F. So what is the antidote for these attacks from Satan?

John simply said to hang on to that which we learned at the beginning of our walk with God. What we learned from scripture.

I John 2:24 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Stay in the Word!

John used the word “abide,” which means to remain in the sense that someone is at home, comfortable, and conversant with Bible truths. We are not merely to “taste” the Word; we are to ingest it, depending on the Holy Spirit to help us digest it so that it can be absorbed into our lives.

I John 2:27 NKJV But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

2 The second antidote is the anointing of the Spirit

A. John referred to “anointing” as the coming of the Holy Spirit at salvation to abide in us.

John 14:16‭-‬17 NKJV And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:9‭-‬11 NKJV But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

This anointing, or indwelling is never repeated. It's permanent. We may grieve the Holy Spirit by disobedience and sin, thus allowing self to take the place of the Spirit’s leadership.

Ephesians 4:30‭-‬32 NKJV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The anointing that John is talking about here is here forever.

B. Because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit we receive at salvation, John said, “You do not need anyone to teach you”

I John 2:27 NKJV But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

He meant that we do not constantly need to be taught the elementary truths of the gospel, for that is one of the Holy Spirit’s ministries. Also, the Holy Spirit provides a glorious “check and balance” within us.

I John 4:1‭-‬3 NKJV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

The Holy Spirit is always present to verify the teachings we receive from others.

When the believer reads God's Word, it is the Spirit of God, living within us, who reveals God's words and thoughts to us.

3. The third antidote is the second coming of Jesus
A. John reminded his readers that the next great event on eternity’s calendar is the second coming of Jesus.

I John 2:28‭-‬29 NKJV And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

He did not set any date; rather, he was saying, “Whenever he comes—and it could be at any moment—be found liv- ing in such a way that you will not be ashamed to stand before him!”

B. Christians should live before God as Enoch did.

The Bible says that Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.

Genesis 5:24 NKJV And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Enoch lived in such close and constant communion with God that his transition from earthly existence to heavenly existence was a very simple thing. This is how we should live. We should walk with God. How do we know if we're walking with God? By reading and studying God's Word, the Scriptures and by being filled with or being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

What part does God’s Word play in your life? Does it “abide” within you? And what about the Holy Spirit? Does he have complete control in your life? Do you anticipate Jesus’ coming with joy? Are you living so close to him, consistently walking by his side, that his coming will be a welcome transition?

Our personal faith is the only acceptable response to the Christian gospel. I'm not talking about intellectual assent. It is one thing to know the gospel on an intellectual level. It is one thing to try to conform to a set of moral standards. But life’s bottom-line question begs to know if you have personally transferred your trust from your own human efforts to Christ and His finished work for your eternal salvation.

Standing at the grave of Lazarus, Jesus proclaimed,

John 11:25‭-‬26 NKJV ...“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Do you believe this?

Colossians 2:6‭-‬10 NKJV As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Sermon Audio

]]><![CDATA[Counterfeit Christianity - It's Results]]>Mon, 07 Sep 2020 01:53:14 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/counterfeit-christianity-its-results

This is the manuscript for the sixth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

(1 John 2:19 NIV). “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us”

What are the results of “counterfeit Christianity”? The denial that Jesus is the God-man, born of a virgin, who was crucified for our sins and rose the third day to overcome death. Those who deny these basic truths about Jesus Christ have a counterfeit religion.

Your local bank tellers know when a counterfeit bill comes their way because they’ve memorized the details of a real dollar. In the same way, believers with sound biblical knowledge will recognize and discard an anti-Christ message or attitude when it reaches their ears.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from September 62020, from the Christ Church patio on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/G7LtSVL38hY

Scripture Reading:

1 John 2:18‭-‬27 NIV Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Text:

(1 John 2:19 NIV). “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us”

Introduction

Today’s advertisers use newspapers, magazines, billboards, radio, television, and the internet to increase their share of the market by showing the superiority of their products over those of their competitors.

In a sense, that is what John did in the latter part of 1 John 2. As we learned last week, starting at verse 15-17, John referred to phony or false worship, or “counterfeit Christianity”. He warned us not to fall in love with the counterfeits, because they won’t last.

1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

We said that a counterfeit is something purposely designed to deceive, and we said that Satan is the master counterfeiter of all time. He seizes vulnerable people, deceives them, victimizes them, and sometimes makes them agents, by counterfeiting spiritual realities.

2 Corinthians 11:12‭-‬15 ESV And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

We looked at the counterfeiting of spiritual realities, showing how the very love of God is counterfeited.

We identified the counterfeit spiritual realities.

First the lust of the flesh.” the desire to have things. The “flesh” refers to the depraved human nature that governs a person’s will, reason, and emotions. That's why it's impossible for an unbeliever to please God, no matter how hard they try.

Because;

Romans 8:7‭-‬8 NIV The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

And in order to please God you must have faith

Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Then there’s the lust of the eyes”, which can express itself in an extreme desire for material things like, fine clothes, a new car, a larger home, or the power to control everything that you see. The danger there is that you can get caught up in things that are not the will of God for you.

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Then the final thing that we talked about last week was the "pride of life" or an arrogant, proud dependence on your own achievements, intelligence, resources, or wealth.

Jeremiah 9:23‭-‬24 NIV This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord , who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord

1. The enemy is plainly revealed before the church

Now, beginning at verse 18 of chapter 2, John holds up the counterfeit and exposes its inferiority to real Christianity, and he also describes those who promote this sinister deception.

1 John 2:18‭-‬19 NIV Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

A. Paul warned in 2 Thessalonians that the “man of sin” (the Antichrist of whom John spoke) will be revealed in the last days.

You will find Paul's warning

2 Thessalonians 2:3‭-‬12 NIV Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Probably this is what John was referring to in verse 18. But just in case the readers of his letter thought that there will be no satanic opposition until that time, John said, “Even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour”

In other words, John meant that those with the spirit of the Antichrist were already at work in the world.

In the church, the word antichrist usually calls to mind the prophesied leader in power during the tribulation. But in the Bible, it more often refers to an anti-Christ spirit—in other words, demonic forces opposed to the truth.

Examples include false teachers, they have the spirit of the Antichrist

1 Timothy 4:1 NIV The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

The spirit of antichrist also includes the negative influence of the world system, which is the total of human life that exists apart from God, alienated from or hostile toward God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

B.  In verse 19 John was painfully explicit in regard to these pretenders.

He said

1 John 2:19 NIV They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

He revealed that these pretenders hold membership in the church. They go through the motions of worship and participate in church events, but theirs is the same kind of spirit that Judas Iscariot had, who was so deceptive in his role as a disciple that none of the other eleven disciples suspected that he was an enemy of Christ until the night before the crucifixion, in the garden.

Example;

John 13:26‭-‬30 NIV Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

It was later that they learned that Judas was a traitor;

Mark 14:43‭-‬45 NIV Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.

So you see how deceptive these counterfeiters can be.

John says in this letter that the time had come for these impostors to separate themselves physically from the church because they were never part of the body spiritually.

At some point they had given intellectual assent to the lordship of Christ, but their hearts had never confirmed their profession.

C. These people were “apostates.”

They were unbelievers who had mentally adopted the doctrines of the Christian faith but had never been united to the church by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They may have said the words never really surrendered themselves.

John said, “They were not of us” (v. 19). Their source was not in the body of Christ, which is composed of true believers only.

2.  John reminded them and we need to be reminded today who we are and what we possess

1 John 2:20 NIV But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

John was elaborating on something that Jesus had told His disciples;

John 16:12‭-‬15 NIV “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

One of the things that the Holy Spirit does is that of enlightening believers concerning the meaning of God’s Word.

John was basically saying, you believers, as opposed to antichrists, are anointed, or consecrated, or declared sacred, by the Holy Spirit, and you know the truth. One of the defining marks of every true believer is that Christ, God’s anointed Holy One, has touched us with his anointing — his Spirit — and caused us to know. Like John said; “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.”

A.  In verse 21 John expands on what he had just said.

1 John 2:21 NIV I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

This was his purpose in writing this letter—not to instruct the ignorant but to remind believers of what they already knew. They already knew the truth.

B. The counterfeiter is clearly and unmistakably identified

1 John 2:22‭-‬23 NIV Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

C. Who is the liar?

The Bible teaches that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).

John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Satan's approach is always based on what is false and misleading. The greatest lie Satan has ever perpetrated is that Jesus is not Christ, God's Anointed One. He tries to spread this lie in many ways. In our day, he takes the intellectual, rational approach by denying the virgin birth of Christ, or saying things like "how can Christ be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit at the same time? How can He be both the Son and the Father".

D.  What about these blessed names, Jesus and Christ?

The name Jesus comes from a Hebrew word, Yeshua, which means “Jehovah saves” and proclaims the deity, humanity, and vicarious atonement of our Savior. Christ means “the anointed one” and is a translation of the Hebrew word from which we get Messiah.

In a prophecy about the Messiah Isaiah wrote;

Isaiah 9:6 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus was anointed by the Father and designated as Savior; he was the acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Luke 4:16‭-‬21 NIV He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Conclusion

What are the results of “counterfeit Christianity”? The denial that Jesus is the God-man, born of a virgin, who was crucified for our sins and rose the third day to overcome death. Those who deny these basic truths about Jesus Christ have a counterfeit religion.

Your local bank tellers know when a counterfeit bill comes their way because they’ve memorized the details of a real dollar. In the same way, believers with sound biblical knowledge will recognize and discard an anti-Christ message or attitude when it reaches their ears.

Sermon Audio

]]><![CDATA[Counterfeit Christianity What Is It?]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:54:48 GMThttps://www.faiththeevidence.com/sermons/counterfeit-christianity-what-is-it

This is the manuscript for the fifth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle and is titled “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”

1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

One of the most distasteful and unpleasant words in the human vocabulary is the word counterfeit. We usually think of a counterfeit as being something purposely designed to deceive. Even more devious than those who counterfeit clothes, perfumes and money are those guilty of counterfeiting in the spiritual realm.

The tragedy connected with this kind of counterfeiting is that many times those involved are victims rather than agents! We already know that Satan is the master counterfeiter of all time. He seizes vulnerable people, deceives them, and victimizes them by counterfeiting spiritual realities.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.

You can see the entire service from August 30,2020, from the Christ Church patio on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/G7LtSVL38hY

Scripture:

1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Text:

1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Introduction

One of the most distasteful and unpleasant words in the human vocabulary is the word counterfeit. We usually think of a counterfeit as being something purposely designed to deceive. Even more devious than those who counterfeit clothes, perfumes and money are those guilty of counterfeiting in the spiritual realm.

The tragedy connected with this kind of counterfeiting is that many times those involved are victims rather than agents! We already know that Satan is the master counterfeiter of all time. He seizes vulnerable people, deceives them, and victimizes them by counterfeiting spiritual realities.

Here’s what Paul says about Satan’s deception and that of those who follow him.

2 Corinthians 11:12‭-‬15 ESV And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

In today’s Scripture reading, John exposed the essence of counterfeit Christianity.

1 John 2:15‭-‬16 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1. What “world” was John talking about?

It was not the world of nature, the beauty of which often defies the descriptive powers of the most gifted poet.

Psalms 19:1‭-‬6 NIV The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Rather, John was talking about the “world system,” the total of human life that exists apart from God, alienated from or hostile toward God.

The forces of evil in this world system seduce men and women away from God and righteousness. The system is ordered, not haphazard. Much of it is cultured, intellectual, even religious.

1 Corinthians 2:12‭-‬14 NIV What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:1‭-‬3 NIV As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

A.  John was aware of the evil power of the world system.

Throughout his gospel and letters, John repeatedly dealt with this subject. In his gospel, he said that the world is in the dark.

For example

John 1:1‭-‬5 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

He quoted Jesus’ words in;

John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In the letter we have been studying the past few weeks in 1 John he wrote;

1 John 1:5‭-‬6 NIV This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

The world is in the dark because it does not know God

John 17:25 NIV “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

The world is in the dark because it does not know Christ

John 1:9‭-‬10 NIV The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

The world is in the dark because it does not know the Spirit

John 14:15‭-‬17 NIV “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

And the world does not know or understand us, Christians

1 John 3:1 NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

B.  Exactly what “love” for the world was John talking about when he said?

1 John 2:15‭-‬16 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Surprisingly, it was agape love. In the past we've described agape as a self-sacrificing kind of love. Just as Christians who are filled with agape love offer themselves to God’s perfect will, those who are victimized by Satan offer themselves to the false brilliance of the world. This is an example of how Satan can counterfeit that which is spiritual.

A sad example of this kind of love is seen in the case of Demas, who was, at one time, one of Paul’s coworkers

At one time Demas was commended by Paul but the counterfeit love for the world caused him to desert Paul.

Philemon 1:23‭-‬24 NIV Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

Then something happened and Demas' love was somehow counterfeited.

2 Timothy 4:9‭-‬10 NIV Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Surprisingly Paul used the word agape to describe Demas’s love for the world.

2. John is talking about a strange manifestation or a counterfeit of this agape love.

1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

A. Verse 16 briefly defines the world system.

i. First is the desire to have things—“The lust of the flesh.”

“Flesh” here refers here to the depraved human nature that governs a person’s will, reason, and emotions. As desperately as unbelievers may try to please God, they cannot.

Take a look at

Romans 8:7‭-‬8 NIV The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

ii. Second is the desire to have whatever attracts the eye.

John called this “the lust of the eyes.” It may express itself in an extreme desire for material things like, fine clothes, a new car, a larger home, or power to control everything that you see. Slaves to "the lust of the eyes" this are in danger of what Paul describes as the love of money.

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

iii. Third is the desire to be number one or “The pride of life.”

The word translated “pride” is the same word used in James 4:16 and translated as “boastings.”

James 4:16 NIV As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

It amounts to the arrogant, proud dependence on your own achievements, intelligence, resources, or wealth. These sins are always tempting us. James also said;

James 1:13‭-‬15 NIV When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Our boasting should not be in ourselves, our stuff or our accomplishments.

1 Corinthians 1:26‭-‬31 NIV Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 10:12‭-‬18 NIV We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Conclusion

John summarized the whole thing like this:

1 John 2:17 NIV The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

John meant that the world would pass in a futile show. In spite of its glitter and appeal, it will not last; it is headed for destruction, it's counterfeit.

Paul said it too;

1 Corinthians 7:29‭-‬31 NIV What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Both John and Paul are saying that this world is temporary. The world is temporary for each person, since every person dies. The physical earth is also temporary, since God will make a new earth in the end.

Revelation 21:1‭-‬5 NIV Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

As a result, the desires of this world are also temporary. We as believers are to resist evil desires, following the example of Jesus when He was tempted by Satan.

He responded to those temptations with the Word of God. “It is written”. He said it four time when tempted. Read it for yourself in;

Matthew 4:1‭-‬11 NIV Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Verse 17 of 1 John 2 is the only place where John mentions the "will of God."

1 John 2:17 NIV The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

However, this phrase is throughout the New Testament.

Mark 3:34‭-‬35 NIV Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

The person that said that was Jesus.

In his letter to the Roman's Paul wrote;

Romans 8:26‭-‬27 NIV In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

In that same letter Paul wrote

Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A natural outcome of salvation is a desire to do God's will.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

John is explaining that a life lived in fellowship with God will go on forever, while earthly things will someday be gone.

Father thank you for the warning against being fooled by the counterfeits of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life because all these things are temporary. We will keep our eyes of the only one who never changes our Lord and Savior Jesus for we know that

James 1:17 ERV Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

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