IF - 1 John 1:6-10

Live the Truth #4 – Studies in 1 John 

The "If's" found in these verses are based on the premise found in

1 John 1:5 - This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

THE “IF’S” OF FALSEHOOD

1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:                                             

1 John 1:3, Luke 6:43-46, Galatians 5:22-23

1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-12

1 John 1:10 - If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.                                                               

Romans 3:23

THE “IF” OF FELLOWSHIP

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.                                                      

John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 5:8, Luke 9:23,            
John 14:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Galatians 5:16

THE “IF” OF FORGIVENESS

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.                 

 1 Corinthians 6:11, Psalm 66:18, John 13:2-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:8-9, Psalm 32:5

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW – 1 John 1:5 etc.

Live the Truth #3 – Studies in 1 John

GOD IS LIGHT – THIS SHOULD AFFECT OUR ACTIONS

1 John 1:5 (KJV) - This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 104:1-2, Genesis 1:1-5, Matthew 17:2, Luke 9:29, Psalm 36:9, John 1:3-5, 9, John 8:12, John 1:12, Ephesians 5:8,                       Matthew 5:14-16, Psalm 119:105, 130, 1 John 1:6-7

GOD IS LOVE – THIS SHOULD AFFECT OUR ATTITUDE AND OUR ACTIONS

1 John 4:7-8 (KJV) - Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.                    

Genesis 1:1, 27, Psalm 19:1, Matthew 5:44-45, Ephesians 2:4-5, John 3:16, 1 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 4:18-19

GOD IS SPIRIT – THIS SHOULD AFFECT OUR ADORATION

John 4:23-24 (KJV) - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 139:7-10, Matthew 15:8-9, Ephesians 5:18-21

BONDED! - 1 John 1:3-4

1John – Live the Truth! #2                                  

1 John 1:3-4 - That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

The key word in these verses is fellowship. When we have fellowship we are bonding.

We want to bond so that our joy can be “full” – Vs. 4

BONDING WITH THE FATHER - ...and truly our fellowship is with the Father

·        BONDING WITH THE FATHER IS BONDING WITH A PARENT                     2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:9, 1, John 1:12-13, Romans 8:15,  Galatians 4:6-7

·        BONDING WITH THE FATHER IS BONDING IN PRAISE – Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 96:1-2, 47:6-7

·        BONDING WITH THE FATHER IS BONDING IN PRAYER – John 16:24, 1 Peter 5:7

·        BONDING WITH THE FATHER IS BONDING IN PURPOSE – Isaiah 42:8,

BONDING WITH THE SON - ...and with his Son Jesus Christ.

·        BONDING WITH THE SON IS BONDING WITH MY LORD – John 13:13, 12:24-26

·        BONDING WITH THE SON IS BONDING WITH MY HIGH PRIEST –  Hebrews 4:14-16

·        BONDING WITH THE SON IS BONDING WITH HIS POWER –              Philippians 4:13, Acts 1:8, Galatians 2:20

BONDING WITH THE SAINTS - ...that ye also may have fellowship with us:

·        TO BOND WITH THE SAINTS WE SHARE!  - Hebrews 10:24-25

·        TO BOND WITH THE SAINTS WE SERVE! - Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 6:18

·        TO BOND WITH THE SAINTS WE SHOW (LOVE)! - John 13:34-35

THIS IS NO FAIRY TALE - 1 John 1:1-2

1John – Live the Truth! #1               

These verses encourage us to live the truth - Luke 6:46, Mathew 14:8-9, Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:6

1 John teaches how to live the truth.

1 John 1:1-2 shows us that we must understand that the Gospel is no fairy tale. It's real!

THE REALITY OF THE PAST

That which was from the beginning,

John 1:35-39, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-3

THE REALITY OF THE PATTERN

...which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled...

John 1:14, Philippians 3:10, Luke 24:39-43,

THE REALITY OF THE PERSON

... of the Word of life;

John 1:14, Jeremiah 1:9, Ezekiel 18:4, Ephesians 2:1, 1 John 4:10, John 3:16

HE REALITY OF THE PROCLAMATION

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

John 14:6, John 10:10

Psalm 100:3, 5 - Why Worship God?

Psalm 100: 3, 5 give us some excellent reasons to worship God.

WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS

Psalm 100:3 - Know ye that the Lord he is God:

Spurgeon – “Our worship must be intelligent. We ought to know whom we worship and why.” Spurgeon p. 234

The word “LORD” here refers to the word Jehovah, the self existent one, the great “I AM”.

Revelation 1:8 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

   

When I truly “know” something, I have a heart-felt conviction that I know it.  If I know that the Lord is God, I am thoroughly convinced in my heart, and wouldn’t dare worship anyone or anything but Him.

When I truly know that the Lord is God:

·        I will accept the fact that His ways are best.

·        I will accept the fact that He knows more than I know and isn’t obligated to explain to me what He knows.

·        I will want to give Him my adoration.

Do you know within your heart that the Lord is God?

I didn’t say “head”, I said “heart”.

If, deep down in your heart, you know that the Lord is God, you will look for opportunities to worship Him publicly and privately, not just for an hour on Sunday Morning. 

Other things will be less important than praising Him!

WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

You wouldn’t be here if God hadn’t created you.

Nothing would be here if God hadn’t created it.

Psalm 135:6 - Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

If we had no other reason to worship God, and there are many other reasons, we are obligated to worship Him, because we are creatures, we are creations, but HE IS CREATOR!   

Revelation 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

And have you ever thought of just how wonderful the human body is?  It is absolutely amazing.

It is not wonder that David said in Psalm 139:14,

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Your body is the most sophisticated creature in the world.

·        Your body, unless sick, maintains a consistent temperature of around 98.6 degrees.

·        Your blood flows through your body without you thinking about it.

·        Your heart keeps pumping, you continue to breathe whether you think about it or not.

·        Your digestive system processes your food.

·        And your brain is more advanced than any computer.

   

If you look at the things around you, the beauty of nature, and the complexity of creation in the plants and animals, you should be ready to bow your knee to the one who created it all!

Romans 1:20 - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Not everyone can worship God for these reasons.

Everyone one can worship God as creator.

Not everyone can worship God because they are His people and sheep.

It is those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who are the people of God.

God’s people are those people who God will receive into Heaven.  Jesus tells us that God’s people must be born again!

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Those who are “born again” have experienced a second birth, a birth that is spiritual and not physical.   

John 3:6-7 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

To be born again one must first realize that he is a sinner and can’t save himself, that he is not good enough to enter Heaven as he is.

To be born again one must realize that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who died for their sins, so that they might be forgiven and enter Heaven.

To be born again is to at a specific moment in time, receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

John 1:12-13 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

If you have truly trusted Jesus as your Savior, you have been born again into the Family of God. You are a citizen of Heaven, even though you are not there yet. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!   

You and I, who have failed God, who have often blasphemed Him, dishonored Him, and caused Him much sorrow and grief, have been made His children.

If that isn’t reason to worship God, I don’t know what is!

And to add to that, God has placed His Holy Spirit inside of us, telling us, witnessing to us, that we indeed are the children of God!

Romans 8:15-17 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

As a child of God, I have great standing in Heaven.

As a child of God, I have great help on earth.

When someone hassles me, he is hassling God’s kid.

When I need protection or have problems, I need not fear because I am God’s kid.

When I pray to God I come before Him as God’s kid.

And just as I, as an earthly parent tried to meet the needs of my children, God takes care of the needs of His children!

And as if this weren’t enough, that we can worship God because we are His children, God reminds us here that not only are we his people, but we are His sheep!

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus tells us in John 10:27-30, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

The Lord Jesus is taking personal responsibility for you as one of His sheep, if you know Jesus as your Savior.   

Please listen to these familiar words with a new appreciation for what it means to be one of His sheep.

Psalm 23:1-6 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

If you honestly reflect on the 23^rd Psalm, you will have to admit that we have every reason to worship!   

WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS LIKE

Psalm 100:5 - For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

For the Lord is good;

You have life because the Lord is good.

You have eternal life, if you know Jesus as Savior, because the Lord is good.

Your every day needs are met because the Lord is good.

You have answers to prayer because the Lord is good.

You have the beauty of creation because the Lord is good.

There is truth and righteousness because the Lord is good.

his mercy is everlasting;   

This word “mercy” means “love”.

God’s love is eternal.

It began before the foundation of the world.

It will continue throughout all eternity.

His love is best summed up in that old familiar favorite,

John 3:16 - quote

truth endureth to all generations.

The word, "truth" actually means faithfulness. No matter what happens in your life, God is faithful. Lamentations 3:21-26, 40

There are more reasons to worship God because of what He is like. You will find them as you read His Word.   

STEPS TO HOPE - Lamentations 3:21-26, 40

Lamentations 3:21-26 (KJV) ²¹ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
²² It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
²⁴ The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
²⁵ The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
²⁶ It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:40 (KJV) ⁴⁰ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

If you are a Christian and need hope here are some steps to take:

REMEMBER - Vss. 21-23

RELY - Vss. 24-26

RETURN - Vs. 40

TRUE LOVE - 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV) ¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

THE PRIORITY OF LOVE - Vss. 1-3

THE PRACTICE OF LOVE - Vss. 4-8

THE PERMANENCE OF LOVE - Vss. 9-13

LET US PRAY

Luke 11:1-13 (KJV) ¹ And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. ² And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. ³ Give us day by day our daily bread. ⁴ And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
⁵ And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? ⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. ⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ¹¹ If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? ¹² Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

PRAYER PRIMER - Vss. 1-4
This is a shorter version of the Lord's Prayer than Matthew gives us, however it is a great pattern for us to remember some of the basics of prayer:

1. Worship - "Hallowed be thy name" - Vs. 2
2. God's kingdom and will done quickly and completely - Vs. 2
3. Provision of our daily needs. - Vs. 3
4. Reciprocal forgiveness - Vs. 4
5. Guidance away from temptation and deliverance from sin - Vs. 4

PRAYER PARABLE - Vss. 5-8

• A man goes to his friend on behalf of a friend at an inopportune time asking for bread. - Vss. 5-6
• The friend is not ready to get up and help. It was inconvenient. - Vs. 7
• Jesus sites the fact that although the friend will not get of bed to help because of friendship, he will get out of bed in response to persistence. -  Vs. 8
• Of course, God responds postively to persistent prayer. The difference is that God answers lovingly.

PRAYER PROMISES - Vss. 9-13

• Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock. The idea is to keep on asking, seeking and knocking. - Vs. 9
• Jesus promises that God will answer. - Vs. 10
• Jesus uses an earthly Father as an example. Earthly fathers, who are by human nature evil, know how to give good gifts to their children. - Vss. 11-12
• The Heavenly Father will give the filling of the Holy Spirit to those of His children who ask Him. - Vs. 13
• The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. Romans 8:9
• God desires that every Christian be filled with the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 3:14-16, Ephesians 5:18
• Let us ask God for His Spirit's filling which gives marvellous results. Ephesians 5:19-21, Galatians 5:22-26

Luke 8:22-25 - PENETRATING QUESTIONS

Luke 8:22-25 (KJV) - ²² Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. ²³ But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. ²⁴ And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Life is full of storms!  We can't escape them!  Based on this Scripture, we can ask some penetrating questions that will help us as we face the storms.

1. IS JESUS IN MY BOAT? Vs. 22 
Have I trusted Him as my Savior and Lord? Romans 3:23, Romans 5:1-9, Romans 10:9-10

2. AM I FOLLOWING JESUS' DIRECTIONS? Vs. 22
The Disciples were out on the lake because Jesus directed them there. Are you spending time reading God's Word, hearing God's Word preached and taught, and praying so that you know Jesus' directions for you?

3. WHAT ARE MY STORMS? Vs. 23
Make sure you understand what storms you are facing today!

4. AM I PANICKING OR TRUSTING? - Vss. 24-25
Now I ask you, what is the better way to live?

5. DO I MARVEL AT THE AWESOME POWER OF JESUS? Vs. 25

Matthew 3:13-17 - TRINITY

(After announcing new outlines, this one isn't, although I preached it recently. New material will follow.)

1 Peter 1:2, Matthew 28:19-20 - No matter how you’ve been baptized it has probably been in the “name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There are people today who want  to remove the doctrine of the Trinity from Christianity. When they do, the whole building called our faith comes tumbling down. The doctrine of the Trinity is part of the structure of our faith. Without it, No Biblical Christianity.

When we think of the word Trinity, we think of the Biblical teaching that God is "three in one and one in three". Although the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is. Don't panic if you do not fully understand how there can be one God, and yet three persons in the Godhead. No human being can fully comprehend the doctrine of the Trinity.

In this passage we are examining the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an important passage because it is here that we find the Trinity presented together. Jesus the Son of God is baptized. The Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove. God the Father gives his approval from Heaven.

This scene reminds me of some of the ways God the Trinity is involved in the lives of true Christians.

GOD WITH ME - IDENTIFICATION

Jesus is God with us - God identifying with man.

Instead of remaining aloof from his creation, Jesus Christ who for all eternity has been and ever will be the Son of God, came to earth, identifying with man.

Jesus identified with us in his BIRTH. Matt. 1:20-23, John 1:14

Jesus identified with us in his BAPTISM. Matthew 3:13-15

Jesus identified with us through his BLOOD. 1 Peter 1:18-19,    Romans 6:6-9

Jesus identifies with us in the BATTLE. 1 John 2:1-2,            Hebrews 4:14-15, Hebrews 7:24-27

GOD IN ME - INDWELLING - Vs. 16

The Holy Spirit is God in us - God indwelling man

Because Jesus was the perfect man, the God-Man, He did things the way we should do them. He was our example.  All that Jesus did as a man on earth was done in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1. John promised that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit. Matthew 3:11, 1 Corinthians 12:13

There is PRESENCE. Romans 8:9 (The Holy Spirit Indwells)

There is POWER. Acts 1:8 “Orders remain unchanged”

There is PRODUCTION. Ephesians 5:18-21, Galatians 5:22-23 Densuke Watermelon, Hokkaido Japan

There is PRAYER. Romans 8:26, Ephesians 6:18 – Praying for someone who can’t pray for themselves.

GOD OVER ME - INVOLVEMENT - Vs. 17

The Father is God over us - God involving Himself with man.

God the Father is present as He always is. He is involved in the life of the perfect man. He is also involved in the life of the Christian.

God's AUTHORITY - "This is" – Psalm 33:13-15, Isaiah 42:8

One of the greatest reasons for Godly Christian behavior is God's authority in my life.

God's AFFECTION - "My Beloved Son"

We too are God's beloved children if we know Christ. John 1:12, John 3:16, 1 John 3:1

God's APPROVAL - "In Whom I am well pleased."

The perfect man had approval from God.

We, as His children, can also have his approval.

As Jesus pleased God, God approved.

As we please God, God approves.