This is the fourth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of 1 John. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the evening of January 26, 2014. This message deals with how the believer can know that he is in fellowship with Christ. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
AUDIO – Listen Now:
AUDIO DOWNLOAD:
SERMON NOTES:
1 John 2:3-6
v.3:
Is this being given so that we can identify an unsaved person?
In considering the implications of these verses, we must consider the context of John’s letter.
1 John was written to the saved, and the context is fellowship with God.
1 John 1:3
Since John is speaking to the saved, and has already set the context of the letter, he must be speaking in terms of fellowship with God.
One aspect to keeping His commandments is to not add to or take away from His word.
Deuteronomy 4:2
Proverbs 30:5-6
Revelation 22:18-19
In fact, to know Him is necessary to walking in the light, and having fellowship with God.
This was probably in response to the gnostic opponents who valued knowledge above all else.
For them, moral conduct and human behavior was unimportant. Knowledge was all that mattered.
For the Christian; however, knowledge of God cannot be separated from the experience of righteousness.
Consequently there is no greater claim one can make in knowing God than to obey him.
Therefore, the test of knowledge of God is moral conduct
Titus 1:16
There is no knowledge of God that does not also keep his commandments. It is impossible to live in sin, and be in fellowship with God at the same time.
v.4:
It follows, therefore, that the man who says, I know Him, but does not do what He commands is a liar.
Someone may profess a fellowship with God which his life shows he does not possess.
John was not afraid to call this kind of claim what it really is:a lie.
However, being in sin does not necessarily mean that one is unsaved, though they would certainly be out of fellowship with God.
Peter makes it clear that it is possible for the saved to be blinded, and even forget about the cleansing of their sins.
2 Peter 1:9
Whenever the believer becomes entangled a life of sin, they lose their fellowship with God.
This is what John is warning about. It is a beautiful thing that God is always willing to forgive those sins, and restore fellowship.
1 John 1:9
v.5:
Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.
John 14:15
Furthermore, that God would love us.
John 14:23
These are the very thoughts which John echoes in this verse.
John is giving us the positive side of knowledge. The one who “obeys his word” (speaking of the Gospel, including both promises and commandments) finds God’s love “perfected” in him.
True knowledge of God does not end with speculative ideas, as for the Gnostics, but with obedience to the moral law and with the presence of God’s love in the believer.
As James says, we are to be doers, not just hearers.
James 1:22-25
“Perfected” carries with it the idea of continuous growth and development; it describes the continuing process. As obedience is practiced, so God’s love matures in us.
v.6:
To “abide” in Him, carries the thought of being completely intertwined.
John 15:4
It stands to reason that we are told that that if we abide in Him, then we must walk as He walked.
We cannot be so closely and completely connected, and not follow in His footsteps.
To live as Jesus lived doesn’t mean choosing 12 disciples, performing great miracles, and being crucified.
Although we can expect trial, which is one reason why it’s so important to know Him.
To walk today as Christ did, we must obey his teachings and follow his example of complete obedience to God and loving service to people.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on January 28, 2014
0