7/21/19 Sunday Morning

As we come to this text the First on 51212 John just stood up me that his sister-in-law keeps waking him up in the service. And there's this image of painted before I want to paint it again.

A lot of people are upset that someone sleeps in the worship service. I know a lot of preachers to get upset about that and I heard one right or say that when you're a father and I still haven't got to be by the other when your father and your child falls asleep in your arms.

How beautiful is that? So John may you continue to fall asleep in arms of Christ? But I say this. You're welcome. I say this because the text today someone is on trial. And this not who you think and the pertinent person witnessing isn't in the correct one. Are all of this shows all the more the love of God first people. Let's start with prayer.

Father we need you. We run from you. We fail you you have us Born Again by your Holy Spirit and yet still we struggle. Dishes to clean do you pieces to clean to your word teachers that in your word is your love in your life? And we see this in Jesus Christ. when you send your spirit who is inspired this text for limited on our hearts so that we may know our Jesus our lord. I love her life. His name we pray. Amen.

But before we get to the text, I want to delete into as we've been going through first. I want to give some highlights from the previous portion of First John to kind of get her mindset right for this section. 1st John 1:4, we write this to make our joy complete.

So the whole letter is about Joy.

1st John 2:15 through 17 do not love the world or anything in the world here. It's in stark contrast to the verse of John 3:16 for God so loved the world. So what John is talking about is the ways of the world the principalities the darkness is not talking about the world that Christ died for. The talking about the people cuz he says it's you talking about the sinful ways. 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. And then we see into verse 28 29 And now dear children continue in him so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming if you know that he is righteous. You know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. I think this born of him language is very important. Coming up on our texts. and that we find ourselves in him and his righteousness not our own we have it all with Christ can give it and the lights to 1st John 4 1 through 4 then versus 7:13 and 4:17. 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 in 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. So that's that's the test the John gives for how you know, you're following after Christ.

Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ is 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 what you have heard is coming and even though I was already in the world you do 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 there you kind of see the two sides on this witness stand that we see in chapter 5 their friends. Let us love one another for love comes from God everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. This is how we know that we live in him and he is in us. He has given us of his spirit. And then 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 have confidence because we get to be like a king. How awesome is that lets child sleeping in his father's arms. So now we come to a text in 1st John 5 1 through 12, and I have some typos in here apologize Grace. They're my fault. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the parent also loves the one who has been born of him. This is how we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and carry out his commands think I'm that person will get to it a little bit that seems so backwards of the order. For this is the love of God that we keep his commands and his commands are not burdensome since all that is born of God conquers the world. No. This is what helped conquer the world our faith who then is the one who conquers the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. He Jesus Christ is the one who came by the water and blood knot with water only with blood. What was water and blood and the spirit is the one who testifies since the spirit is truth. And since there are three to testify the spirit the water and the blood and the three are in agreement. So we have this court case set up know what in the world. Are there green over a wire. What is John to pick this image for us? If we accept the testimony of people the testimony of God is even greater. For this is what God has testified about he has testified concerning his son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The one who does not believe God has in effect branded him a liar since he is not believe what God has testified concerning his son. And this is the testimony God has given eternal life to us. And this life is found in his son. The one who has the son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. The word of our Lord and thanks be to God. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the parent also loves the one who has been born of him. I hear preachers kids can make that seem a little faults. Hopefully if I get kids will never be quite like that.

Quit trying to get to the father by some other means than the Sun. Jesus Christ didn't put on flesh so that he wasn't sufficient he put on flesh because he is sufficient. We can't climb over the wall. We must enter through the gate. Jesus says in John 10:1 very truly. I tell you Pharisees anyone who does not enter the Sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way is a thief and the robber. So then when John talks to this church, and this letter is for those in the church and how we relate to each other. I can't help but of snickering cuz he says you who want to be saved apart from Jesus saved by your Doctrine saved by your morals without the blood of Jesus.

your robber and you're stealing what you can't even have. How foolish are you? This is how we know that we love here for the orders backwards play. This is how we know God when we love the children of God that he says this is how we know that we love the children of God. That's what's important. We keep talking about what I want to love God and everything else will fall into place. I'll talk about the Sunday school. We say I'll go out in the woods and I'll get my life together. You're here now on this Earth.

You have a task. Tool of the bride of Christ. You're a piece of it love the bride of Christ if you can't love the bride of Christ. How are you going to sign the gospel to those who need it and that's also your job. This is how we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and carry out his command for this the love of God that we keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

John Piper had some good insights here. He says the John is blasting some of the Temptations of the early church. Is pulling out of cannons? And the name of certain principles of scripture God's commands are being forgotten.

God is love is an example. 1st John says it and we love it makes us feel good. So then we say therefore.

You should love the sin.

Cuz God is love love the sin and he said no that doesn't happen. But just look at our modern Church.

Therefore you should leave your brother lost in sin in order to love them. Cuz you can't say anything mean to somebody because that's not loving them. Will the clearing God's truth life is found in Christ and not in your sin is loving. It's not loving to ignore someone hurting. The test of whether you love God is how you love his children the test of whether you love God is are you keeping God's commands and are they burdensome to me? If you post those your loving God and other people and you have your act together now, I don't expect any of us quite have that act together, but that's the aim that we're going towards. What about people who use use love to cancel command? They say loving? The loving thing to say to a homosexual is not the descend but settle down with one if you got to be homosexual just love one person. The church today is saying that that's not the gospel.

Love is of God. Love is not God. God is love. So what we and our sinful? Blind Park suggest as love because it makes this happy for a moment doesn't necessarily mean it's love so then how do you deal with your broken? They bring you have that on disease in yourself? Just look at the items you have in your cabinet.

Another is if a church member is involved in open persistent unrepentant sin does love say just forget about it. It's okay. You don't need to worry. You can stay broken in that.

Do we feel love with our own understanding? Or do we say how does God love to what end does God love us? He loves you to the end of your wholeness your personhood your Delight your satisfaction your joy fraternity. That means letting go of what may satisfy you for a moment sin is delightful for moment.

Loving God means having a heart that does not find the command to love burdensome.

When you're honoring God when you're looking out with his eyes when you see your neighbor who you love hurting. It's not a burden to help them. It's a release of joy.

That's what God's law is like. I'm your friend get caught up and carried away with the potassium is done paints worth today.

We should want that the light for fellow Christians. Who are struggling?

And we should also want that to light as their fellow Christians who are struggling help us where we're struggling cuz none of us have it together. Since all that is born of God conquers the world. Where God commands not burdensome Jesus words because my yoke is easy. That's true too. But he's pointing at a very big theological argument here John gets in the mind of those who are trying to finagle the gospel to their own devices. So you want to conquer everything. God's law is not burdensome because it leads to Victory. So you want to find Victory? That's why you're doing all this in the church because it makes you happy you feel like you've made victory. God's law does bring Victory. It is not burdensome to love them the flip some he flipped us all up on our heads shakes us out and says, here's price run for him. There is a weight the glory but no one complains of glories weight when we're closed in the Splendor of Christ.

Then John continues now, this is what has conquered the world our faith. This is a subtle slap in the face again. Not your morals, not your doctor and then by the way, your morals and your docs in a very important, but they don't conquer the world.

your face Kevin says faith is ultimately a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence towards US founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ both revealed to our minds the sealed Upon Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit faith is that we know that God is loving is now And then we just listen, but you asking that and that you act on that. Not just your faith either not to speak that's in you Don says what conquers the world our faith. Your neighbor your fellow part of the bride of Christ. so important God has for you and then being for you he is for your neighbor through you and him being for your neighbor is for you through your neighbor.

Done here also sets the inevitable victory Of God linked to Faith In Jesus over against the rabble-rousing of the church. Who wrote the world? Who was the world's ways of Conquest win? And so the world one. This is just part of the church does missing Christ want Conquest to be how the church operates and John sets up this court scenario is beautiful. Who then is the one who conquers the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God.

And I hear the words of the hymn. Jesus Paid It all all to him I owe sin had left a Crimson Stain. He washed it white as snow. Get this in your head. You come to the father through Jesus the son. This is evident how you care for the others? You come to the father through Jesus the son and this is evident and how you care for each other.

Jesus Christ is the one who came by the water and blood not with water only but with water and blood and the spirit of the one who testified since the spirit is truth.

Are you confused at all by that? I spent a whole week after having known what it meant. Trying to know what it means. We seen John 19:34 place. We often go to trying to figure out what this water blood mixture is. And that verse says instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side with the spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water notice blood and water not water and blood the order is backwards is the same author having written it so I don't think he's looking to that. There's a conceptual link between the two texts. So think that you can see this, but that's not what you mean to. some suggest baptism in death it makes good sense in this language of the spirit is first place in all of this, but

Why would John bring in baptism at the Pinnacle of this argument for how you treat your brother in Christ?

With some obscure reference to baptism that you hadn't brought up anywhere else in the book. There's still one better and Grace and David can tell you about it from the most recent experience. John's 33235 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 is 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 gives birth to Spirit him if life gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to Spirit.

So as far as christological problems go. One of the biggest ones big enough to read a whole book about it and stick it in God's word is Jesus being fully God and fully man and what that means for how we love each other?

What's at the top of the list until we get 1st John John is saying it or take the day? I promise you he was born. I heard it from Mary or water broke.

Jesus is a man. Quit trying tonight. He's a man why I got to become a man is beyond me to ever understand, but he did he did for you. Jesus was born a human. And when his blood spilled Jesus died a man. He was fully man, and he was fully god, Jenna sing to all you who do not believe Jesus really died. I promise you.

when I saw my Lord crucified the god-man Jesus died I will put my vendor in the ground there.

I will die on this hill. Jesus was man born and died man. His blood really rolled down. His blood was really spilled. Don't sweep that under the rug. Your religious boxes aren't supposed to have room for it. But God did it.

And since there are three to testify. The John this is too much to believe.

And I could hear him saying I know friend. I laid my head in his lap and he died for us all.

I'm still in shock to I can't make sense of it. But I promise you Jesus was crucified.

Vagina doesn't make sense.

How could God die?

I don't know.

I know through the witness of three men.

We will Stone a girl from being promiscuous. 2017 6s on the testimony of two or three Witnesses a person has to be put to death but no one is to put to death on the testimony of only one witness. God's upside down kingdom uses 3 to testify to the fact that Jesus fully God and fully man would die and did die for us and so on the testimony of these three the spirit the water and the blood he shouldn't be at US-23 putting someone to death. Jesus didn't die and he's testified to our life. inverts the whole equation

So this court damage the gut sets up. That puts himself on trial is the witness for his love for you.

And he says I came as a man.

Jesus says I was born for you. I came in Carnet. I put on flesh I died for you. I thought you like that and I'll send you my Holy Spirit. I send you all a doll help all benefit All Care.

The spirit the water and the blood and the 300 rement if we accept the testimony of people the testimony of God is even greater. Love that thinking. How can you argue with that logic? You're going to kill somebody for three people. Will you live for God? The spirit the water and the blood will you live for God? For this is what God has testified about he has testified concerning his son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony and himself the one who does not believe God has an effect Brandon him a liar since he has not believe what God has testified concerning his son. If you're going to get so caught up and not being able to understand christology which by the way knowing can all you can do is Baskin all of God's work for you guys. Love for you. Don't not be curious about to go explore it. We don't feel like your faith is based on how well you can understand it perfectly cuz God's infinite in your finite.

Engine continues and this is the testimony. God has given eternal life to us. And this life is found in his son. The one who has the son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Find yourself in Christ. Apply all your wonder and all and curiosity to his glory. Stop trying to put him in a box to master in study. Stop trying you can understand something to think you can understand this Doctrine. Is bigger than we are. What does it mean we don't clean to it and hold to it, but doesn't mean that the way we treat our brother isn't important.

But it's in Christ, but it's done. It's not because you were in Salvation. He has learned it gives us these tests for spiritual health is loving God people a burden to you. If it hurts you to love each other. Something's wrong at the red flag. Let's work on that.

And the other is how do you grow you clean? The Christ Jesus Christ fully man. Fully God became incarnate who was crucified risen for you reason for your neighbor the person sitting next to you everybody in the bride of Christ. I also risen we seeing John 3:16 for the world and what that means. I have no clue. Because there is hell. I hope God came to die for the world and the one who died for us. the one who judges he's the one that wants you. The poorest is loving you. so now we finished up this text and I like to Indy sermons on 1st John because they're so much argument of the church about all this love language comes out of First John and Falls evil. I want to show you where Paul says what first John said to us today. Romans 8 for those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God the spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again rather the spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship and by him we cry Abba daddy father the spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children than we are heirs Heirs of God and Co heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed enough for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. The stars are waiting for Christ's bride to be called.

God's on the move so

I've got sets himself up as the witness for his love for you. Why in the world God would even love us this is mystery and then you set some stuff up in a court case that says I love you with my body my blood my spirit. May we so love our neighbors we see that. When were broken in the church? We that be how we act with each other.

When our families are hurting may this be how we act for each other? Because of how Christ has taught us. Let's pray.

For this thing of love is so hard for us to understand. I seem to always put what I get out of it as the meaning for love not what I give in it. and if your son has come and given of himself

the death the teacher of Your Love And thank you for that display the continues to be. the banner of your bride may we be your people may we act like your people may we love like you love and as we love each other like you love God. May. We also remember the world in darkness that needs you and we do send it to them prepared by the love of your son to share your goodness to them. Jesus Christ name I'm in.