Bulletins - Living Way Church

- - John 14.6ESV
Great Are You Lord
Cornerstone
How He Loves
Living Hope
No Longer Slaves
Good afternoon everyone, it's great to see all of you today. And in particular I want to wish all of our mothers that are either here or watching online a Happy Mothers Day. Sorry, I do not have a special mothers day message today. I chose to continue in our series on 1 John. And so as we continue our series on "Becoming Like Jesus", we are going to explore 1 John chapter 2 verses 12 through 17 today. In the Christian faith, we often experience God's grace through the forgiveness of our sins, but what happens when this grace collides with our guilt for those sins? Unfortunately, we all carry the weight of past mistakes and guilt, but today's sermon is here to show you that God wants to set you free from that burden.

Let me share a personal story that may resonate with some of you. Before I met my wife, I made a mistake with a young lady that resulted in a lot of guilt and shame. She told me that she was pregnant with my child, and I made the decision to marry her. However, before the wedding, I found out that the baby was not mine and that she had used some money I gave her to have an abortion. This news crushed me, and I carried the weight of that sin for a long time.

But one day, I met Jesus, and I experienced his grace and forgiveness in a way that changed my life. He lifted the burden of my guilt and shame, and I felt free. Today, I want to share with you the same message of hope and freedom that I received.

So, if you're carrying the weight of past mistakes and guilt, know that God wants to set you free. He loves you as his "little children," and his grace and forgiveness are available to all who seek it. So, let’s look at our text today and see how mighty and gracious our God is towards us.

Let’s begin and look at verse twelve together.

1 John 2:12 ESV
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
This verse is a great reminder of one of the foundational truths of our faith: the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. John addresses his audience as "little children," this is meant as a term of endearment that emphasizes his deeply personal relationship with them. He wants to reassure them of their salvation and to encourage them to keep growing in their faith.

The phrase "for his name's sake" highlights the centrality of Jesus Christ in the forgiveness of sins. It is through His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection that we can be forgiven and reconciled to God. The forgiveness of sins is not based on our merit or our good works, but on the finished work of Christ Jesus.

As we continue to look at our passage, we will explore what it means to be forgiven and how that forgiveness should impact our daily lives as believers. We will also see how the forgiveness of sins is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible, and how it is an essential part of the gospel message.

John continues to address the believers, specifically those who are in different stages of their spiritual journey. John writes,

1 John 2:13 ESV
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

Notice that John addresses the believers in different stages of their spiritual journey: fathers, young men, and children. These categories are not necessarily based on age or even gender, but rather on spiritual maturity. The fathers are those who have been in the faith for a long time and have a deep knowledge of God. The young men are those who have already overcome the evil one, indicating that they have been victorious in spiritual battles. The children are those who are new in the faith and still have much to learn.

Despite the differences in their spiritual journey, John affirms that all believers have one thing in common: they all know God the Father. Knowing God is the foundation of our faith, and it's what unites us as a community of believers. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we should also aim to help others in their spiritual journey, whether they are fathers, young men, or children in the faith.

Verse 14 reads,

1 John 2:14 ESV
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Here, John narrows to whom he is speaking to only two groups within the community of believers: fathers and young men. Again, fathers most likely refer to what are typically the older, more mature believers who have had a longer relationship with God and have gained wisdom through their experiences. Young men, on the other hand, may refer to the younger, more energetic believers who are still developing their faith and may face unique challenges as a result.

Regardless of age or experience, both groups again have something in common: they know God and have overcome the evil one through the power of God's word. This is a powerful reminder that no matter our stage in life or our level of experience, we can all rely on God's strength and guidance to overcome the challenges that we will face in this sin soaked fallen world.

We also need to remember that our walk with God is ongoing and that we should continue to seek God's guidance and strength, no matter what challenges we face.

John continues in verse fifteen and he writes.

1 John 2:15 ESV
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.

This verse speaks to the danger of putting our love and focus on worldly things rather than on God. It is a reminder that we cannot serve two masters, and that we must choose where our allegiance lies. The world offers many enticing things, such as wealth, power, and pleasure, but ultimately these things are temporary and will not satisfy us in the long run.

As believers, we are called to be in the world but not of the world. We need to learn to resist the temptation to conform to the ways of the world and instead seek to live in accordance with God's will. This means putting God first in our lives and seeking to please Him above all else.

In our modern society, it can be easy to get caught up in the pursuit of worldly success and material possessions. However, we must remember that these things are not the source of true happiness and fulfillment. Only a relationship with God can provide us with the peace and joy that we truly desire.

Verse 16 provides a contrast between the desires of the world and the desires of God. John writes,

1 John 2:16 ESV
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Here, we see that the world promotes and prioritizes self-centered desires, such as the pursuit of pleasure and possessions, and a prideful focus on oneself.

However, as Christians, we are called to have different desires that are in line with God's will. We are to seek after Him and His kingdom, putting our trust in Him rather than the things of this world. This is not to say that we cannot enjoy the good things of this life, but rather that we should not allow them to become our ultimate focus or source of identity.

In a culture that constantly bombards us with messages of self-promotion and instant gratification, it can be difficult to resist the pull of the world's desires. But as followers of Christ, we have a higher calling and a greater purpose. By aligning our desires with God's will and seeking to live in obedience to Him, we can experience true fulfillment and joy that surpasses anything that this world has to offer.

John continues and in verse seventeen and he writes,

1 John 2:17 ESV
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Here, John emphasizes the temporary nature of the world and its desires. Everything that the world has to offer, including wealth, power, and pleasure, will one day fade away. However, those who do the will of God will abide forever.

We are called to live in the world but not be of the world. We are to resist the temptation to conform to the world's values and desires, and instead, seek to do the will of God. This means putting our trust in God and His promises rather than in the fleeting pleasures and desires of the world. When we live in this way, we are assured of an eternal reward that far surpasses anything the world has to offer.

This verse challenges us to examine our priorities and to live our lives in light of eternity. It reminds us that our ultimate destiny is not tied to the things of this world, but to our obedience to God's will. As we strive to do His will and live according to His purposes, we can have confidence that we will abide with Him forever.

So What

I have a couple of points that I want to make in conclusion.
First, We need to consider the theological problem of the world.

The Theological Problem of The World

The world, as defined by John in this passage, is a treacherous place that can do irreparable harm to believers. It is a place where sinful cravings, lust, and pride run rampant. We must take this inditement that John has against the world seriously.

We must draw strict boundaries between the world and the church, just as Paul did in his letters to the Ephesians and the Corinthians. We must arm ourselves for the battle against the world and discern worldly wisdom from godly wisdom. John encourages us to overcome the world because of its inherent hostility towards us.

Examples of how the world has lost its moral compass are abundant in our media today. Even family-friendly channels have become increasingly violent and inappropriate. We must not be tolerant of these things but rather take a stand and draw a "line in the sand."

The erosion of a Christian consensus undergirding society has been joined with a "sacred" devotion to science and materialism, which now provide us with our understanding of the universe. Yet while this is going on, new modern myths and new pagan religious forms are erupting everywhere. This is a tragic catastrophe that is at work in our society, and the world has become a theological problem for us.

We need to constantly consider how we can better protect ourselves from the influences of the world and how we can take the offensive against the neo-paganism on our doorstep. We need to draw the line in the sand and remain faithful to Christ, who has already overcome the world.

Freedom from Guilt

As we reflect on our journey with God and our spiritual development in Christ Jesus, it's important to recognize what the scriptures identify as things that can hinder our progress. While sin is undoubtedly the most apparent of these, there's another weight that we often bear, and it can cause us to stumble and prevent us from serving God wholeheartedly - that is our guilt.

Throughout our passage we are reminded of the great forgiveness and grace that Christ offers to us. Through His sacrifice, our sins have been forgiven, and we have been made new. As believers, we are no longer defined by our past mistakes, but by the grace and love that Christ has shown us.

As a result of our new lives that are found in Christ Jesus we need to walk in that freedom and grace, free from the guilt and shame of our past sins. We should not let our past define us, but rather let the love and forgiveness of Christ transform us into the people He has called us to be.

We can do this by staying connected to Christ through prayer, through Bible study, and through our fellowship with other believers. We should also strive to be honest with ourselves and others about our struggles and seek accountability and support when needed.

We should also focus on serving others and sharing the love of Christ with those around us. By the grace of God we have been given the opportunity to be a witness to the transformative power of God's grace and forgiveness in our lives.

My hope is that we leave here today, firmly rooted in the forgiveness and grace of Christ, unburdened by the guilt and shame of our past sins. And as we step out into the world, may we radiate the bright and unwavering light of Christ Jesus, shining forth as beacons of hope and love to those who are lost and hurting, guiding them towards the abundant life that is found in Christ Jesus alone.

Amen.

Amen.

Let us Pray.

Dear Lord, we thank you for your word and for the truth that it contains. We confess that we have fallen short of your standards and have often been enticed by the allure of the world. We ask for your forgiveness and for the strength to resist the temptations that surround us.

Help us to remember that we are forgiven and loved, and that we can walk in your grace and freedom. Remind us that our past mistakes and sins do not define us, but that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We pray that you would help us to live in that truth, free from guilt and shame.

As we go out into the world, may we be your light and salt, shining the love and truth of Christ to those around us. Give us the courage and wisdom to stand firm in our faith and to be a witness to your goodness.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- - 1 John 2:12ESV
- - 1 John 2:13ESV
- - 1 John 2:14ESV
- - 1 John 2:15ESV
- - 1 John 2:16ESV
- - 1 John 2:17ESV
Goodness Of God

John 14.6ESV

So What

The Theological Problem of The World

Freedom from Guilt

1 John 2:12ESV

1 John 2:13ESV

1 John 2:14ESV

1 John 2:15ESV

1 John 2:16ESV

1 John 2:17ESV