Sermon Notes  08-28-11am

1 John 2:29-3:3

Intro:   John was an old man — Deep and Stubbornly Practical!

  • So What?  How does this Truth Impact Life Today?

t/s – Our Text…. Beautiful, Deep…. Driven toward one

very Practical Purpose….

1 John 2: 29-3:3

Celebrate Your New Life

Exp – John speaks of the Christian as “Born of God” (29)

  • Children of God (2x) = teknos (born ones)…

Contrast to huios, Paul’s adoption (rights)

  • Regeneration….New Life in Christ (last week)
  • Passive verbs… born of Him, bestowed on us…
  • See… How great a love…. What kind of Love!?

n      point – a love like no other!

ILL – Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the sea…

“What kind of man is this?”  (He’s not from around here!)

App – Imagine Yourself on that Boat — that how we should feel!

How Long since you could say…  “I stand Amazed!”

His Love is Purposeful… To make us His Children.

Anticipate the Next Life (1b-2)

Exp – We are not at home in this world… Passing through…Future

Vs. 2 – Our Hope…. Confident Expectation…Glorification

  • Confidence – Future
  • Cloudy – do not know what we will be
  • Clear – Two unmistakable Realities

1)      We Will See Him just as He is

2)      We will be like Him!

ILL – New tribe translating 1 John 3:2…  We will be like Him

No!  It is too much; let us write, “We shall kiss His feet!”

App – Biblical Christianity balances “Now” with “Not Yet!”

T/S – John’s focus is practical and present… Daily Behavior…

Dedicate Ourselves to Live Right Today

Exp – Vs. 29 – Since you are a child of God, Act Like Him!

Vs.  3 – Since you will One Day Stand before Jesus, Purify

ILL – Like a priest preparing to enter His presence in Temple

  • Ritual cleansings & washings

Note:  No Imperatives…. Indicative… John states the Facts and

Let’s us draw our own conclusions!

Sanctification (Set Apart to God)

  • God’s Work of Grace
  • Our Effort… “Purifies himself”…continuous effort

App – John deals with a very relevant issue….  Hypocrisy!

Our Claims are not supported by Our Behavior.

“Hypocrit” = play acting… pretender!

Conclusion

Righteousness Is Relational.

Born of God = Doing Right; Purity of Life = Hope a Seeing Jesus

Right Living will Never finally Flow from Rules, not found in Rituals.

Righteousness comes from Our Relationship with God, our Connection to Jesus Christ.

 

ILL – My Relationship with Granddad Bivins (respected patriarch)

  • When he was present I walked a little straighter; I was careful with words, on my best behavior…
  • As a child, I somehow sense a Connection between Who He Is and Who I AM; Who I Will Be; Who I Ought to Be!

Righteousness Is Relational.

You are a Child of God.  There is a connection between Who He Is and Who You are; Who you Will Be…..  Who you Ought to Be!