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Sermon Notes 07-31-11 am
1 John 2: 12-17
Intro: Edmund was destined to be King. Edmund the Just would reign over the land with his brothers and sisters as a good and capable king; but, he did not act like it at first!
- Remember the story from CS Lewis, Narnia
- The White Witch bribed him with Turkish Delight. He loved the candy so much that he sold out his brothers and sisters and overlooked the enemies, ugliness.
- Boys, “I can’t stand that guy!” What a fool, What a shame! He sold out himself, his family, the kingdom for a box of candy.
t/s – Similar to John’s message today. Don’t trade the Treasure you’ve receive in Jesus for the
Trifles the world has to offer.
1 John 2: 12-17
Thesis: Don’t lay aside the Riches you have received from
Jesus to grasp at the “Stuff” of the World.
Part One = Our Standing in Christ (What He has Given Us)
Exp – Perfect tense speaks to what we have received in the past that
Continues right into the present…still remains.
“Children” = All of us
“Fathers” = mature Christians…older
“Young men” = younger Christians
Forgiveness; Fellowship with Father; Foundational Truth; and a Fighting Chance…Victory!
ILL – “Act your Age” “Be a Man” “Honor the Family Name”
App – As John challenges us to live a better kind of life, he reminds us
that we have already Received a better standing in Christ!
He is not asking us to be more than Who He has made us!
Ephesians 4:1 – Live Up to Your Name!
Part Two = The Challenge….Don’t Trade the treasure you have received for the trifles the World has to offer.
Read 1 John 2: 15-17
“World” = Not people; not even Creation;
Created order in sinful rebellion against God.
Peterson’s translation…. The Message
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
Two Realities about the World and what It Offers:
1) The World and what it offers is Passing Away!
Sensuality, Materialism, Pride in Position or Possessions..
“Right Now!” Passing Away…. Diminishes as soon as you Obtain it!
Ill – Like Plantation owner with chest full of confederate
Cash… worthless!
2) World Competes for Love You have Already Promised to Him
Vs. 15 – John makes a rather stark, harsh claim…extreme?
Matthew 6:24 – Cannot serve God and Mammon
Thus, for the Christians to Love the Stuff of the World is Both Disloyal and Stupid! We trade a Love already promised for “Stuff”
Remember Day Esau Sold Out…Thus Esau despised his birthright!
Oh Christian, Don’t sell your birthright for the Pot of the Stuff the world has to Offer. It’s all Passing away. You have a Higher Calling!
