Sermons

Following Jesus means becoming more like him – especially in love and compassion. In John’s first letter, he makes it clear that we are to follow the example of Jesus love, which means taking the initiative in serving, acting self sacrificially, and revealing the truth of the gospel. When we love one another like this, God’s love is made complete among us. Outline: 1. The example of Jesus’ initiating love 2. The example of Jesus’ sacrificial love 3. The example of Jesus’ completing love

Taking stock of the year that has gone by and looking ahead to the New Year, can be helpful in considering if we have grown in our faith this past year. A spiritual review of the year is like a spiritual health check, asking questions about certain areas of our faith to consider our maturity and to consider the kind of habits we are in or might seek to make. This first week looks at bible reading. Do we see it as necessary or simply an optional extra? Do we prioritise it, or have we more important things that need to be done? Do we consider it to be something that is of great benefit or just too much effort for little return?

This passage helps answer the question – What is it to be a child of God? As our country of birth or residence will shape our identity in terms of how we behave or our likely experiences in life, so too there are common experiences and behaviour that children of God will share and that must necessarily shape our identity. 4 things are in clear view from the passage: that Children of God are born of the Spirit, they are lavishly loved, they abide in Christ and finally they do not shrink back. Following on from the earlier 3 test in 1 John, we continue to test ourselves against Gods word to see if we are truly Christ’s

In the book of 1 John, there are laid out 3 tests by which we can examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith. By doing so and passing the test we can have assurance of eternal life – 1 John 5:13. The Third test is the Doctrinal Test – Do you have the Son? The dominant picture of the passage is the temptation to deny Jesus. We discover that 1. There are many who deny Jesus 2. Many are decieved and 3. There is one truth. John says “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” – 1 John 2:23 and 1 John 5:12, ‘Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have the son of God does not have life.’ Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 The only way to be saved is through Jesus and we must be careful lest we fall and are tempted to deny Jesus. We must hold carefully to the foundational confessions about Jesus.

In the book of 1 John, there are laid out 3 tests by which we can examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith. By doing so and passing the test we can have assurance of eternal life – 1 John 5:13. The Second test is the Social Test – Do you Love your Neighbour? The Commandment to Love one another was 1. To be so from the beginning, 2. Confirmed and renewed in Christ and 3. Is to be seen in the life of God’s people. John says it like this – “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” – 1 John 2:4 Jesus says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:35 This old command to love one another is confirmed and renewed in Christ who tells us that love for one another is not optional if we are to be his disciples and requires that we love all people, even our enemies and that we are to love as he also loved, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34

In the book of 1 John, there are laid out 3 tests by which we can examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith. BY doing so and passing the test we can have assurance of eternal life – 1 John 5:13. The first test is the Moral Test – Do you keep the commandments? We can have assurance of salvation if we 1. Keep the Commandments, 2. Keep the Commandments with Integrity and our of Love and 3. If we walk as Jesus walked. John says it like this – “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” – 1 John 2:4 Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15 The Christian must be obedient to the commandments. Although we fall short and continue to sin, the inclination of our hearts must be obedience. We have an advocate in Christ before the Father for forgiveness and yet we aim and try and set as our goal – obedience.