OUR ADVOCATE OUR OBEDIENCE

Introduction

[For Sure: 1 John]

What is 1 John all about?

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” - 1 John 5:13

[Prayer - Brian Dye, Chicago]

Hope in Jesus

[Eva/lieʼn/Confused]

When we become Christians we donʼt become perfect or completely stop sinning. However, there has been a serious change that has taken place in our lives. So, what do we do when we sin? The first thing is put all of our hope in Jesus.

[1 John 1:1, 2]

Why does John say he is writing these things?

“These things” that John is talking about are what we talked about last week; God being completely good, no evil, us being completely evil, but Jesusʼ blood spilled for our darkness, and his blood washing away our darkness.

So, one response to the fact that if you hope in Jesus he will forgive you of all your sin is if so then I can live however I want and heʼll forgive me. John is saying that he wrote these things about the cross so that we would not make a habit of sinning.

[Entitlement/Taking advantage/Daycare/Grown Men/Upperclass]

We do the same thing with God. We can think because he sacrificed his son on the cross, we can somehow pimp the cross to get off the hook. Absolutely not!

Cultural Lies:1) “Jesus died for my sins”2) “Weʼre all sinners” 3) “Nobodyʼs perfect”

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it (Romans 6:1, 2)?”

If this is your mentality to think it is ok to continue in straight up disobedience, but all the while saying he died for your sins your absolutely deceived. Jesus died on the cross so that we would get rid of sin!

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.” - 1 Peter 2:24

A true Christian does not want to sin, they want to obey, but a true Christian is still a sinner.

What do these verses say is answer to our sin problem?

[Nicknames/Ricky-Poo]

Three nicknames of Jesus:

1) Someone to plead [Josh/lawyer] 2) Pleases God completely [Jesusʼ Baptism]3) Sacrifice [Propitiation]

How might these three realities encourage you when you sin?

How might you encourage your brother or sister in Christ when they sin?

Any questions about this?

Obey Jesus

So, weʼve asked the question what should you do when you sin? First, hope in Jesus. Second, obey Jesus from the heart.

[Adultery]

Real love and hope in Jesus proves itself in obeying Jesusʼ commandments. Genuine faith in Jesus always results in faithfulness to Jesus.

[Love for kids/action]

[1 John 2:3-6]

1 John is all about being for sure youʼre ok with God, saved.

How can we be for sure with know God according to V.3?

What are commandments?

What are some of Jesusʼ commandments?

1) Believe in me, come to me, listen to me, follow me2) Repent 3) Take up your cross 4) Love God5) Love your neighbor 6) Donʼt lust 7) Make disciples

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did .” - 1 John 2:7

Obeying the commandments simply means following Jesus!

[Trevor]

When your heart has been taken over by Jesus and who he is, you will love his commandments and delight in them.

“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” - 1 John 5:3

How do you view the commandments of Jesus? 1) Hatred2) Donʼt really care 3) Ok for some people 4) Love

Are you obeying Jesus or not?

Is there a particular area of your life that is off limits to Jesus?

So, when we sin, what should obedience look like?

[1 John 2:4]

What does the person in this verse claim about themselves?

What is really true about them?

[Miami Heat/Bandwagon]

[1 John 2:5]

1 John once again was written to Christians as test to see whether they were real or not. So, here in these verses the test has been obedience to the commands and words of Jesus.

I want to encourage you all that if youʼre here are you really do hope in Jesus when you sin and you really do obey the commands of Jesus, then God is at work in your life. The only way those two things can ever be possible is if God is first working in your heart to help you hope and obey.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” - Ezekiel 36:26, 27

How might we encourage another as a family to obey Jesus?

Application non-Christians:

1) Not being better2) Give up (ghetto-bird)3) Go to Jesus (Advocate, Good, Sacrifice)4) Begin to obey