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Introduction
The one thing I always hate about going to class is that the teacher or professor stands up there and talks theory after theory – but once you get out into the real world – you find that theories are great for getting a good grade but not so good for getting a good job. Driving is like that – you can talk all you want about how to do it, but until you actually sit behind the wheel you can’t really understand what it’s like. In that vain – here are a few tips I picked up for you student pilots out there who love to think about flying, but have never actually sat behind the wheel of an airplane. Takeoffs are optional. Landings are mandatory. If you push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. If you pull the stick back, they get smaller. Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is dangerous. The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire. A "good" landing is one from which you can walk away. A "great" landing is one after which they can use the plane again. Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself. Stay out of clouds. The silver lining everyone keeps talking about might be another airplane going in the opposite direction. Reliable sources also report that mountains have been known to hide out in clouds. There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. In the ongoing battle between objects made of aluminum going hundreds of miles per hour and the ground going zero miles per hour, the ground has yet to lose. It's always a good idea to keep the pointy end going forward as much as possible. Remember, gravity is not just a good idea. It's the law. And it's not subject to repeal. Always try to keep the number of landings you make equal to the number of takeoffs you've made. And a bonus tip: Helicopters can't fly; they're just so ugly the earth repels them. So as we try our wings as Christians – we learn all the theories about how to live the Christian life – we want to soar like an eagle, but often crash like a rock. The Apostle John understands that, especially in the area of sin. He knows that we want to obey God, but we will fall so often the ground has an indentation in it shaped just like your body falling over and over in the same place. But today we’re going to talk about not being discouraged when things don’t go as well as you’d like in your attempts to please God. We begin with John’s purpose for writing this letter: Vs 1 – 2 Explanation John recognizes that the goal is not to sin, but the reality is that we will sin – every one of us. I’ve never had much call for attorney’s – but I tell you, when you need one, you are very very glad you’ve got one – because they can wade into the legalize and the court system and advocate for you. That’s what Jesus does – except that we are guilty and He not only is our attorney, He took the punishment that guilt brought for our sins. He in verse 2 is an emphatic personal pronoun – He Himself – Jesus is both the priest and the sacrifice for us. Atoning means “satisfaction”. Jesus death satisfies God – in the need to punish sin, the need for a perfect life to pay the price for sin, in that Jesus is in fact enough – you don’t have to do any more – Jesus did it all. Application 1. How many times do we go through this exercise – we try to please God, fall flat on our faces, then feel so much shame over what we’ve done that we don’t feel worthy to come to Him – we just feel dirty? Make confession of sin a regular part of your daily routine. 2. How many times do you come to Christ, then hear all the other things you should be doing and feel like you’ve got to come up with something, anything, that can be your part of the deal, your contribution? Realize God is satisfied with you because He’s satisfied with Jesus. Vs 3 – 6 The next verses give us three tests of spiritual maturity in Christ – they are: Obey, Walk, and Love. Explanation In some ways, verses 3 – 6 seem to contradict verses 1 & 2. 1 & 2 talk about the reality that we will sin, in other words not obeying God – then 3 – 6 talks about knowing God through obedience. So what gives? John isn’t contradicting himself – verses 3 through 6 tell us that a real believer puts a very high priority on obeying God and walking like Jesus. John wrote partially to counter a system that was just taking shape – a system that would later be known as Gnosticism. It comes from the Greek word “to know”. Gnosticism says that the pathway to salvation did not depend on a freedom from sin, but a freedom from ignorance. Basically: that some hyperspiritual experience or inner enlightenment is all that’s necessary to know God – not a recognition of sin, or of the need to obey. Application We cannot feign intimacy with God without seeking to obey Him. We cannot say we live in Him without walking how Jesus walked – we cannot say we have the “light” of God’s revelation – unless we love our brothers – otherwise we are actually living a lie and living in darkness. Obey The word “obey” means: “to guard.” In chapter 3 of 2nd Peter we talked about being “on guard” against false teachers – to be observant of your surroundings. Here “to guard” means to protect, watch out for – to keep from loss or injury. We are to obey His commands – and we’ll get to the central theme of what His command is in a moment. The encouragement here is for all of us to keep a watch over how often we do what God says to do in His Word. When my kids were small their disobedience resulted in a lack of trust and a lack of intimacy. So too with God – we can’t be close if we are living in a state of disobedience. Now I don’t think that means obey in the sense of hearing every whisper of the Spirit and instantly turning right or talking to a particular person – I think John here is speaking about obeying God’s commandments – living your life as it the Word of God reveals the character of God to you. Walk The second idea we have here is walking as Jesus did if we claim we live in Him. The way of Jesus is a way of self-sacrifice and suffering. I know it doesn’t sound like much fun – but Jesus told us that we would have tribulation in this world. So the key is to be pliable to God changing us through the trials and tribulations – Hebrews says even Jesus learned obedience through the cross. We too must say to God “Your will be done” even if it means suffering. Oddly – it is through this dieing experience that we truly live and experience God’s power and presence like we’ve never felt before. Remember Philippians 3:10-11 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. NIV So we’ve seen tests 1 & 2 – now we come to test three – love. Verses 7 – 11 Explanation On the one hand there is nothing new about a command to love – It is found in the Ten Commandments – and so is “from the beginning.” Jesus Himself told His disciples: “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34) There is something new here – we can love others not just because God commanded it – but because Jesus lived it, and now empowers us to live in love as well. Application The ultimate test of our obedient love to God is whether we can love those around us. I want to challenge us – shake us up a bit. It’s easy to love those that love us and say nice things about us and appreciate us. It’s another thing to love when the thoughts and words aren’t nice – when we aren’t appreciated or even acknowledged. Now I’m not giving an excuse to take advantage of others – no – we need to find every way we can to appreciate the things people do for us. What I am saying is that can take a measurement of the level of our spiritual maturity by how much we are able to show His love to those who don’t love us. We don’t have a license to hate, even if we are right. We see in verse that loving means living in the light and not stumbling. Several commentators think a better way to translate verse 10 is: There is nothing in him to cause anyone to stumble. Too often it is our misbehavior that drives people away from a relationship with God and out of the church – our lack of love. How do we get this love? Not by drumming it up – but by praying it in – being filled with the Spirit – I think that’s what’s meant by Ephesians 5:18 “don’t get drunk on wine … but be filled with the Spirit.” Getting drunk alters our character by anesthetizing brain cells – being filled with the Spirit alters our character by making our thoughts and actions follow His character – not our own. Verses 12 – 14 Next we come to a section that seems oddly out of place – but actually fits here very nicely given what John’s been telling us. Explanation These verses are a parenthesis to John’s letter – a step back of reassurance and recentering on what really matters – a relationship with God. John addresses the entire group in verse 12 and the very end of verse 13 – then addresses elders in the beginning portions of verses 13 and 14 – and finally speaks to younger Christians in the latter portions of verses 13 and 14. 1. Children Sins forgiven – are children of God by knowing the Fatherhood of God through the sacrifice of Christ, God’s Son. 2. Elders (mature believers – not Elders of the church) “since the beginning” seems to indicate that their seasoned wisdom through experience anchors them in their knowledge of God. 3. Younger Christians Younger believers have strength too – to engage in battle with the “evil one” Interestingly – he doesn’t say that they “win” the battle – but have already “overcome” (perfect tense) signifying the victory was won by Jesus on the cross. Application Sometimes in the midst of the battle, in the midst of just trying to figure out what living the Christian life is all about – we need to take a step back, see some perspective, take a deep breath, and just rejoice in who we are. To those who are just starting or are young in the Lord John says “you’re struggle isn’t in vain – and Jesus has overcome already what you face so you need not fear”. To those who have been around the church for a long time he says “you really do know God – this isn’t all a nice story or fanciful theory.” Don’t think you have wasted your time – your Father sees your deeds and will reward you. And to all of us he says: your sins are forgiven – don’t despair because you fall and aren’t perfect. Conclusion • The way to truly be close with God is to confess, not feign intimacy while living in disobedience. - CONFESS • The way to truly love is to walk as Jesus walked and love whom He loves, not shunning the unlovable. • The way to see victory in life is to find comfort and security in your longstanding relationship as a child of God. |
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