AM 1 John 2:3-11

[0:00] A very warm welcome to you all to our service today, and a special welcome to visitors, I believe from Cheltenham. You're most welcome.

[0:15] My name is Robert Dale, by the way. I'm not the minister here. We have no minister, but I'm stepping in. I'm one of the congregation stepping in just today.

[0:26] There's a few notices. Firstly, there's our evening service at 6 o'clock tonight, when I will be preaching again.

[0:44] Wednesday, we have our meeting at 7 o'clock, prayer meeting and Bible study, led this week by Norman. Next Lord's Day services, 11 and 6, will be led by Alan Thompson from Dowanvale Free Church.

[1:02] As most of you know, we have a problem with dry rot, and we have the contractor coming in, Peter Cox.

[1:16] We're expecting that he will begin that work on Wednesday, and that it will take two to three weeks, during which time we won't be able to use this upstairs area.

[1:31] The dry rot is actually at the bottom of the stairs, but we won't be able to use this area. We can, however, use the downstairs hall, and we've checked, and it is adequate from a COVID point of view, and the work will be, we hope, screened off from us.

[1:50] It does mean that when you come for the next couple of weeks, you'll need to park in the downstairs car park. Not many churches have an upstairs and a downstairs car park, and come in through the side door.

[2:05] The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, which met two weeks ago, record their concern over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and its impact on the overall health and well-being of our people, as well as its impact on the national economy.

[2:30] They note with sadness the spiritual and moral decline in recent times, and the apparent failure to acknowledge the name of our God, and to reach out to him for help as the crisis worsens at this time.

[2:49] They have appointed a day of prayer to be observed by all congregations next Sunday, October the 25th.

[3:00] And you can pick up at the door a copy of that call to prayer. It's this sheet here, giving details of what they suggest that we pray for.

[3:15] And finally, just to remind you that the clocks go back next Sunday. Let's begin our worship of God now this day by hearing a psalm being sung to us.

[3:37] We can't, of course, sing ourselves at the moment, but we're going to hear Psalm 103 in the Sing Psalms version, and it's verses 1 to 11 that we're going to hear.

[3:53] And I'll read just the opening verses. Praise God, my soul, with all my heart. Let me exalt his holy name.

[4:05] Forget not all his benefits. His praise, my soul, in song proclaim. Praise God, my soul, with all my heart.

[4:18] Praise God, my soul, with all my heart. Let me exalt his holy name.

[4:28] Forget not all his benefits. His praise, my soul, in song proclaim.

[4:39] The Lord pour him to all your sins. And yield your sickness and distress.

[4:53] Your life he rescues from the grave. And yield your sickness and distress.

[5:05] And yield your sickness and distress. He satisfies your deep desires.

[5:18] From his unending source of birth. So that just like he need us to stay.

[5:30] Beautiful, mayer, history. The Lord is known for the righteous man.

[5:43] And justice to the man's other bonds. The Lord is known for the righteous man.

[5:56] The Lord is merciful and kind. The Lord is merciful and kind. To anger slow and full of grace.

[6:21] He will not constantly improve. For in his anger, I did his face.

[6:34] He does not want nature to see. Forgiver sins, their just reward.

[6:46] For in his love, I ask them. Towards all those who fear the Lord.

[6:58] Towards all those who fear the Lord. Let's come before God in prayer.

[7:13] Our gracious God and our Father. We would indeed bless your holy name.

[7:24] And we would thank you and praise you for all your benefits to us. We thank you above all for that key blessing.

[7:35] The forgiveness of our sins. And as that psalm goes on to say. That as far as the east is from the west. So far has he removed our transgressions from us.

[7:50] Thank you that you have done this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Coming into this world and dying on the cross for our sins. Thank you that you have raised him from the dead.

[8:03] And he is our everlasting Lord. We pray that you would be present amongst us in this service. We ask you Lord God that we may know.

[8:17] That the Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. We pray that you would speak to us through your holy word.

[8:28] That you would unite our hearts together. In fellowship in Christ. And in the worship of God. And grant that good may be done to our souls this day.

[8:40] And that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Might be honoured and glorified. For we ask all through that holy name. Amen.

[8:50] Amen. Amen. Now children. Good to have you with us as usual.

[9:02] I've brought along something to show you. I don't know whether you can see that. Whether you can see what it is.

[9:15] Work out what it is. It's a wooden frog. It was a gift from our daughter Hannah. Who lives in Hong Kong.

[9:31] It's a rather special sort of frog. Because it croaks. Comes with a little wooden stick. And hopefully if I run this stick down its back.

[9:45] Then you can hear it croaking. Yes. Rather a nice little thing. Our daughter Hannah lives on the 14th floor.

[9:59] Of a big block of flats. So there are no frogs up where she lives. But she has a lovely view out over the bay. And on the other side of the bay.

[10:10] There is a little pond. And there are frogs in that pond. And they're very, very loud. You could only just hear this, couldn't you?

[10:23] But Hannah can hear those frogs in the evening. Half a mile away. Croaking in their pond. I was curious to know how loud a frog can croak.

[10:40] I'm that sort of person. I'm interested in such things. So I looked it up on the internet. And I discovered the answer is not as simple as you might expect. Because there are lots of different kinds of frogs.

[10:53] And apparently in Hong Kong. There are no less than 20 different kinds of frogs. Some of them have got quite interesting names.

[11:06] I jotted them down somewhere here. If I can find them. Here we are. There's a paddy frog. There's a Chinese bullfrog.

[11:19] There's a big headed frog. And there's a rough skinned floating frog. There's a giant spiny frog. And there's a lesser spiny frog.

[11:31] And there are lots of others. In the UK. There are only four kinds of frogs listed. And they're a little bit boring. They're the common frog.

[11:42] The pool frog. The moor frog. And the agile frog. And each frog has its own unique croak.

[11:54] Well the world record. The loudest frog in the world. A lot louder than this. Is called a cokey frog. And it lives in Puerto Rico.

[12:07] And you can hear it a mile away. Now. Here's a question for you. Do you think this frog is real?

[12:22] Is it real? What do you think? Is it a real frog? You think so? You're easily convinced.

[12:36] Thomas. Do you think it's a real frog? Yeah. Yeah. Oh. Well. I've convinced you. Well. And it looks like a frog. Doesn't it?

[12:47] And it sounds like a frog. Must be a frog. But actually it's not. Is it? You know really. It's not really a frog. It's just a wooden model of a frog.

[12:58] There's no life in it. I could put it there. And it will remain there all day. And it never will jump anywhere. Because it doesn't have any life. Now there's a serious spiritual lesson for us here.

[13:16] There are people who claim to be Christians. They talk like Christians. Maybe they talk very loudly like Christians.

[13:29] Boasting of all they've achieved. And all that they are. Cokey Christians we'll call them. Can hear them a mile away. But it doesn't add up.

[13:41] When you look at their lives. There's nothing there. They're not living as Christians. Christians. And the reason is.

[13:52] Because they don't have any spiritual life in them. Not enough just to call yourself a Christian. You have to have spiritual life.

[14:06] Life given by God in your soul. That's what I'm going to be talking about in the sermon later on. But our prayer for you children.

[14:18] And for everyone in the congregation. Is that you might be real Christians. Trusting in Christ. As your saviour. And following Christ.

[14:31] As your Lord. Let's just bow together and pray now. Heavenly Father.

[14:42] Thank you for the children amongst us here. Thank you for your great love for children. Thank you that these children have the great blessing of being brought up in Christian homes.

[14:55] And being taught these vital truths. And we pray that from an early age. They may embrace the faith for themselves. And may follow Christ.

[15:06] And trust in him alone. As their saviour. And likewise for all of us here. Help us to learn even today. That vital lesson.

[15:17] That we must be real. And we must have the spiritual life of God. Inside us. So hear us in this prayer. For we ask in Jesus name.

[15:29] Amen. Amen. We have two readings today from the word of God. And the first one is from John's Gospel.

[15:44] Chapter 14. And I'm going to read from verse 15 to the end. John 14 verse 15.

[16:04] If you love me. You will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father. And he will give you another helper to be with you forever.

[16:16] Even the spirit of truth. Even the spirit of truth. Whom the world cannot receive. Because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him.

[16:28] For he dwells with you. And will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while.

[16:40] And the world will see me no more. But you will see me. Because I live. You also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father.

[16:54] And you in me. And I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them. He it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father.

[17:07] And I will love him. And manifest myself to him. Judas, not Iscariot, said to him. Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us.

[17:22] And not to the world. Jesus answered him. If anyone loves me. He will keep my word. And my Father will love him. And we will come to him.

[17:34] And make our home with him. Whoever does not love me. Does not keep my words. And the word that you hear.

[17:44] Is not mine. But the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you. While I am still with you. But the helper.

[17:54] The Holy Spirit. Whom the Father will send in my name. He will teach you all things. And bring to your remembrance. All that I have said to you.

[18:05] Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives. Do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled.

[18:18] Neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you. I am going away. And I will come to you. If you loved me. You would have rejoiced.

[18:29] Because I am going to the Father. For the Father. For the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you. Before it takes place.

[18:39] So that when it does take place. You may believe. I will no longer talk much with you. For the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.

[18:52] But I do as the Father has commanded me. So that the world may know. That I love the Father. Rise.

[19:02] Let us go from here. And our second reading. Is from 1 John. Chapter 2. And reading verses 3 to 11.

[19:22] We are continuing the series. That we began. Three weeks ago. On 1 John. So chapter 2. And verse 3. And by this we know.

[19:36] That we have come to know him. If we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him. But does not keep his commandments. Is a liar.

[19:48] And the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word. In him truly the love of God. Is perfected. By this we may know.

[20:00] That we are in him. Whoever says he abides in him. Ought to walk in the same way. In which he walked. Beloved.

[20:12] I am writing you no new commandment. But an old commandment. That you had from the beginning. The old commandment. Is the word. That you have heard.

[20:24] At the same time. It is a new commandment. That I am writing to you. Which is true. In him. And in you. Because the darkness. Is passing away. And the true light.

[20:35] Is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light. And hates his brother. Is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother. And abides in the light.

[20:48] Abides in the light. And in him. There is no cause. For stumbling. But whoever hates his brother. Is in the darkness. And walks in the darkness. And does not know.

[21:00] Where he is going. Because the darkness. Has blinded his eyes. We'll come back to that. A little later.

[21:10] But let's now. Bar before God. Again in prayer. Heavenly Father.

[21:21] We thank you. For your word. Which we have read. And we pray. That you will write it. Upon our hearts. We're very keenly.

[21:32] Aware. Of our shortcomings. And when we read. That the genuine Christian. Obeys the commandments. Of God. We feel.

[21:44] We feel. Very anxious. As we look at our own lives. And we know. That we have not. Kept your commandments. As we ought.

[21:56] But we thank you. That there is forgiveness. With you. That you may be feared. We thank you. For the blood of Christ. That cleanses. From all unrighteousness.

[22:07] And we thank you. For the spirit of God. Who will lead us. In the ways. Of righteousness. And that is our desire. That through this coming.

[22:19] Week. And always. You would. Teach us your ways. And cause us. To walk. In that good way. That is taught. In the word of God.

[22:32] We pray too. That you would fill our hearts. With. That love for one another. Of which John speaks. And of which the Lord Jesus Christ.

[22:43] Had also spoken. We thank you. For our brothers and sisters. Throughout the world. And express before you. Our love. For them.

[22:54] As well as for you. Because they are. The children of God. Thank you for friends. Amongst us today. From Cheltenham.

[23:04] Reminding us. By their very presence. That there are. Christians. Throughout this land. We pray for the church.

[23:15] In Cheltenham. And we pray for the churches. Of God. Throughout. The United Kingdom. Lord. We pray for. Days of. Renewal.

[23:26] And revival. In your church. Throughout our land. Lord. Knowing that indeed. This country. Has drifted. Into. A great ungodliness.

[23:38] And that even your churches. Have. Slipped away. Into. All manner. Of worldliness. And are far from what they should be. And we ourselves are far from what we should be.

[23:51] Lord. We confess it before you. And pray that you will make us. A church that will glorify. The Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for.

[24:04] The church. Throughout Scotland. Particularly. And especially here in Dumfries. Help us to. Be. Light and salt. In the.

[24:15] Society in which we live. Help us to proclaim. The gospel of Christ. To this. Needy town. We pray for other churches.

[24:25] In this town. Likewise. And ask that the gospel. May be made known. And that many. In our days. May turn to Christ. And be saved. We pray Lord God.

[24:39] For your persecuted church. In many parts of the world. We know that our brothers and sisters. Are suffering greatly. And we ask you to be with them.

[24:50] Close by them. In their darkest hours. That the light of Christ. May shine for them. Precisely when their fears are greatest. Grant them hope.

[25:02] We pray that you will help us all. To stand firm. Against ungodliness. Even though it may bring. Some persecution to us at times.

[25:13] We pray Heavenly Father. For the. Spread of the gospel. For the missionaries. Who are still at work.

[25:24] In many parts of the earth. And in many countries. No doubt facing. Practical difficulties. Because of coronavirus. But grant that the word.

[25:35] Of life. May continue to be published. That your great gospel. May be preached freely. And powerfully. And that you would gather in.

[25:45] As you have promised. That great multitude. From every nation. Every tribe. Every tongue. We pray Lord.

[25:56] For this nation of ours. We ask you Lord. For. Your mercy. Toward us. Not only. Because of the coronavirus.

[26:07] But because of. The many other. Problems. That our land faces. And because of the moral condition. Of our land. Lord have mercy upon us.

[26:19] We pray Heavenly Father. That. This land of ours. May be well governed. We commit to you. Those who are. In authority.

[26:29] With the. Difficult decisions. That they have to make daily. We pray for our Queen. And the Royal Family. Thank you for them. Thank you for the Queen.

[26:40] Being able. To take on. An official. Engagement. In the past week. Even at her. Great age. Thank you for her. Loyalty. And commitment.

[26:50] We pray for. Our Prime Minister. For Boris Johnson. And for our First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon. And for their governments. Lord however critical.

[27:02] We may feel at times. We know that theirs. Is an unenviable task. And we pray that they may. Go about their work. With a sense.

[27:15] That there is someone. Greater than themselves. Lord open their eyes. To know that there is. A God above. To whom they are answerable. And who can guide them.

[27:26] In the difficult decisions. That they face. We pray Heavenly Father. That you would draw near. To us all now. And in our more. Personal needs.

[27:38] Lord. Come to us. Each one. Where there are. Problems with health. Where there are. Anxieties about our families. Lord.

[27:48] Where there are spiritual problems. That we struggle with. Draw near. And grant your gracious help. From on high. Remember those who are.

[28:00] Away from us at this time. We think particularly of Joan. And her family concerns. At this time. We pray Heavenly Father. That you would.

[28:11] Grant to us all. That we may be led. By the good shepherd. Through this coming week. Knowing that you lead us always. And will lead us. Even to the very end.

[28:22] Even to that day. When we shall be raised up higher. Into your very presence. Even until that day. When the Lord himself. Will return. In power and glory.

[28:35] How we long. For the great climax. Of all things. That perfect new heavens. And new earth. That is to come. But help us now. To walk patiently. In this world.

[28:47] To serve the Lord. And to glorify your great name. For we ask all. Through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Let's hear once again.

[29:06] The second psalm. That we're to hear. Is Psalm 19. And it is verses 7 to 11. From the Sing Psalms version.

[29:17] That we're going to hear. Beginning with the words. The perfect law of God. Revives the soul of man. His statutes. Which are sure.

[29:28] Make wise. The simple one. Amen. The priestly政治. The Heaven and Thee with great delight.

[30:12] Cross the earth on hands, shed light on what we see. The beauty of God is new and lost eternally.

[30:31] The standards of the Lord express His perfect truth and righteousness.

[30:49] For the world and the world and money from the home and money's will power, it will serve and life afford, the world and the world and the world.

[31:35] Chapter 2. Three weeks ago we began a series on 1 John which I will be following through as and when I'm preaching here.

[31:49] And today, this morning I want to continue with that series looking at verses 3 to 11. I'll read verse 3.

[32:03] And by this we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. The great theme of 1 John as we saw in our first two studies is real Christianity.

[32:31] How can we be sure that our faith is real? We could liken it to a man testing for gold.

[32:45] Imagine that you have a gold watch. Or at least you think it's gold. If it really is gold then it's a fortune.

[32:57] But is it? It may only be gold plated. Or it may be a complete fake. You know the saying, all that glitters is not gold.

[33:13] How can you tell? Well a reputable goldsmith will probably be able to tell just at a glance. He will check He will check the hallmark.

[33:27] It should have a distinctive mark on it somewhere that shows the quality. 9 carat or 18 carat gold and where it was made.

[33:41] If he's still in doubt after all the hallmark could be forged then there are lots of other tests he could do. There's a sound test.

[33:53] Apparently gold makes a distinctive sound if you tap it with certain kinds of metal. Or there's the magnetic test.

[34:07] Gold is not magnetic. Another test is the acid test. Carefully make a little scratch on the gold and pour in just a tiny little drop of trioxo nitrate acid.

[34:29] And if it turns green well I'm afraid it's a fake. Or if need be there are other more sophisticated scientific tests.

[34:41] Like x-ray analysis or atomic absorption spectroscopy spectroscopy whatever that is. I don't know but that's what the internet said you do if you really have to test for gold.

[34:57] Or you could just try the old fashioned test of heating it in the fire. Burning off impurities and seeing if anything is left.

[35:09] Though you might not want to do that with a gold watch. Well what John is doing in this letter is offering us various tests.

[35:21] Various ways to determine if our faith is real. Faith is in fact likened in the Bible to gold.

[35:35] Job 23 verse 10 when he has tried or tested me I shall come forth as gold. Or again in 1 Peter 1 and verses 6 and 7 Now for a little while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor.

[36:10] at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Those two scriptures describe a more painful test through the fire of suffering.

[36:24] These tests here in 1 John are less painful though they may still hurt because they probe into the deepest recesses of our souls.

[36:36] souls. We saw last time in chapter 1 that real Christians have fellowship with God and with one another and that they walk in the light.

[36:57] John recognizes in chapter 1 the reality of sin the reality of sin and he recommends a remedy. The only remedy there is the blood of Christ.

[37:09] But the ideal is still to live holy lives. Now he builds on that. Real Christians keep God's commandments.

[37:24] Now before we take fright at that thought let me assure you that John is not saying here that we must be perfect.

[37:38] John has already admitted that we all sin even Christians sin and we all need forgiveness.

[37:49] But our heart's desire is for holiness and therefore if we're real Christians we will at least try to keep God's commandments.

[38:08] Let me also stress that he is not describing here the way of salvation. no one ever has been or ever could be saved by keeping God's commandments.

[38:24] Because no one apart from Christ has ever obeyed them perfectly. We're saved by trusting in Christ who died on the cross to save us.

[38:40] When we trust in Christ our sins are imputed to him and his righteousness is accounted to us. What John is describing here is not the way of salvation but the way we live by the grace of God after we are saved.

[39:04] He's describing the marks of a true Christian not the method of salvation. the real issue here is how do we know that we are saved?

[39:23] If you want to know how to be saved then John's gospel is the place to go. John sets forth there the Lord Jesus Christ in all his glory as the son of God and savior of the world and urges us to believe believe in him.

[39:42] One John is more reflective. How do we know we are saved? He is answering the doubts that we might have about ourselves.

[39:55] How do we know that our faith is real? Pure gold and not a fake. Now John's aim is first and foremost that we should test ourselves.

[40:11] Notice that this is in the first person plural. By this we know that we have come to know him. But it will also enable us to test the claims of others.

[40:27] John has in mind particularly the false teachers of his own day. especially the Gnostics the knowing ones who claimed to have a special secret knowledge of God and yet lived ungodly lives.

[40:44] But we can apply it equally to those who make false claims today. I want us to consider this morning two things. Obedience to the commandments generally and obedience to one commandment in particular.

[41:04] That new commandment to love one another. So first obedience to the commandments generally in verses two to six.

[41:18] Three to six rather. By this we know that we have come to know him. If we keep his commandments. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar.

[41:31] And the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him.

[41:43] Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in the same way in which he walked. Knowing God is the real essence of Christianity.

[42:00] It's the greatest blessing that we can possibly know. It lies at the heart of the new covenant. In Jeremiah 31 verse 34 they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest.

[42:17] And Jesus himself said in his prayer after the last supper John had heard him say it. John 17 verse 3 this is eternal life that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

[42:39] Knowing God is linked here with two other great blessings. having the love of God perfected in us in verse 5 and being in him in verse 6.

[42:53] Again John is echoing here the words of Jesus himself at the last supper. John 14 verse 20 we read it earlier. In that day you will know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you.

[43:09] in you. And in verse 23 if anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.

[43:22] All three. Knowing God being in him and being filled with his love all speak of union with God through Christ. sin separated us from God.

[43:34] sin separated us from God. Christ has reunited us with God. But is it real?

[43:46] If it is John says it will have practical consequences. And he expresses this in three ways. We will keep his commandments verse 3.

[44:00] We will keep his word. Verse 5. And we will walk in the way that Jesus walked. Verse 6. Which amounts to the same thing. Because Jesus obeyed the commandments of God.

[44:14] Again he is echoing the words of Jesus here. John so often does that. Sometimes in one John you feel that in his mind he is still there at the last supper.

[44:27] John 14, 15 John 14, 15 If you love me you will keep my commandments. If anyone loves me he will keep my word. So if we genuinely know God in other words if we are genuine Christians if we genuinely have the love of God in us if Christ is with us we will keep his commandments.

[44:58] Now when we think of the commandments we think perhaps first of all of the ten commandments. And that is certainly a good place to start.

[45:10] God famously spoke to the Israelites at Mount Sinai Exodus 20 giving them the ten commandments. In summary you shall have no other gods before me.

[45:22] You shall not make any graven images. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. You shall keep the Sabbath day holy. You shall honour your father and your mother.

[45:34] You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not lie. You shall not covet anything that is your neighbours. You shall not covet anything that is your neighbours. Now some of these are obviously good for society.

[45:53] I'm not aware of any society that thinks that murder is a good thing. But others are not so obvious and modern society has moved quite alarmingly away from the ten commandments.

[46:11] A YouGov poll in 2017 found that only six out of the ten commandments were still regarded as relevant today by a majority of British people.

[46:32] And even more alarming that was true even amongst those who claimed to be Christians. If you can bear to hear this I'll give you the figures.

[46:46] Ninety-three percent agreed that both murder and stealing were wrong. Seven percent apparently thought even murder and stealing could be justified.

[47:00] Eighty-seven percent were against lying. Seventy-three percent were against adultery. Seventy-three percent were against adultery. Sixty-nine percent thought we should obey our parents.

[47:13] Thirty-one percent apparently didn't think that was necessary. I suppose we should be grateful that the figure is even as high as it is. Sixty-one percent agreed that we shouldn't covet.

[47:26] All of those of course come from the second table of the law concerning our relationships with one another. The first table was seen generally by people as totally irrelevant today.

[47:41] Even amongst Christians, so-called, 44 percent thought it was okay to worship idols.

[47:56] Thirty-eight percent thought it was okay to use God as a swear word. And only 31 percent thought the Sabbath was important.

[48:07] Amongst so-called Christians. How we need to pray for our nation. Now real Christians will stand out against all of this.

[48:24] And we do so precisely because we know God. We know the awesome majesty of God. It is a fearful thing to disobey God.

[48:42] We know the amazing wisdom of God. It's a foolish thing to disobey God. But above all we know the love of God.

[48:54] Who sent his own son to die for us. When we think of that love. We want to please him.

[49:08] It would be the height of ingratitude not to obey him. And when we think of the cross. Of the price that had to be paid for our sins.

[49:19] We realize just how serious sin is. And how much sin displeases him. Now this desire to please God.

[49:34] Marks out our obedience of God. As different from our obedience to ordinary human laws. Take for example the current law.

[49:45] That adults have to wear masks in shops. You all obey that law. I'm sure. But why do you obey?

[49:59] Partly because it is the law. And you're law abiding citizens. Partly perhaps because you feel it's a wise law. You don't want to catch coronavirus.

[50:11] And you don't want to give it to others. Partly perhaps because of the consequences. You don't want to get thrown out of the shop. Or possibly even fined. But I'm quite sure that you don't obey that law.

[50:28] Because you want to please Boris Johnson. Or Nicola Sturgeon. You're not thinking as you put on that mask. And that mask are. This will bring a smile to the face of Boris.

[50:42] Whatever your politics. You don't wear that mask. Just in order to please Boris or Nicola. Or Nicola. But we do obey God.

[50:59] In order to please him. That is our primary motive. When it comes to obeying God. Those other motives do come in.

[51:10] But above all we obey God. Because we love him. Knowing God.

[51:21] And obeying God. Necessarily go together. They're actually found together. In the new covenant. The promise is not only.

[51:32] They will all know me. But also. I will write my law. On their hearts. Anyone who says. That they know God. And yet.

[51:44] Disobeys God. Is a liar. John says. That's strong language. Isn't it? It's the same language. He used in chapter one.

[51:55] Of those who say. They know God. But walk in darkness. He's saying. That it's a simple contradiction. In terms. To know God. And yet disobey God.

[52:06] The two. Just cannot go together. Again. Let me say. He's not saying. That Christians are perfect. We know we're not. But our lives.

[52:19] Must live up to our words. The walk. Must match the talk. If you truly know God.

[52:31] Then you will love God. And you will want. To obey God. God. As Christians. We can say. With the psalmist. Oh. How I love. Your law.

[52:44] True. There are parts of God's law. That no longer apply. The ritual law. Was fulfilled. In Christ. The civil law. Was intended. For Israel. But the moral law.

[52:55] Summed up. In the Ten Commandments. Continues forever. We love that law. And we want to keep it. And we want to obey it.

[53:06] From the heart. Not just in the letter. But in the spirit also. As Jesus himself has taught us. Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount.

[53:17] How the commandments are. Deeper than first meets the eye. Murder. Has its roots in anger. Adultery.

[53:28] Has its roots in lust. And therefore as Christians. We seek to deal with those. Radical problems. Of anger. And lust. Not just the outward disobedience.

[53:39] Of murder. Or adultery. Or adultery. Jesus summarized the law. In Matthew 22. You shall love the Lord your God. With all your heart.

[53:50] And with all your soul. And with all your mind. And your neighbor. As yourself. On these two commandments. Hang all the law. And the prophets.

[54:01] That is the ideal. For the Christian. And Christ himself. Is our supreme example. We want. As John says here. To walk.

[54:12] As he walked. Jesus himself. Obeyed his heavenly father. Because he loved him. He even went to the cross.

[54:23] In obedience. To the father. Did you notice that. At the end of our reading. In John 14. As he says. That they are to rise up. And go.

[54:34] And we know where he's going. He's going to the cross. He says. As I do. As the father. Commands me. He always sought. To please God.

[54:46] He always walked. In holiness. And love. And so must we. A Christian is a follower. Of Jesus. Follow me.

[54:57] Jesus said. And a follower. Walks in the steps. Of his master. We can't do so. In our own strength. Our own strength. But by the grace of God. As Christians.

[55:08] We must. Imitate Christ. If you're not. Walking in the ways. Of Christ. Then you are not. A Christian. But there's one commandment.

[55:20] In particular. That John draws attention to. Let's now come to that. New commandment. To love. One another. Another.

[55:31] In verses 7 to 11. John. Introduces this. With a paradox. Beloved. I am writing to you. No new commandment. But an old commandment. That you had.

[55:42] From the beginning. The old commandment. Is the word. Which you heard. At the same time. It is a new commandment. That I'm writing to you. Which is true. In you. In him.

[55:53] And in you. Because the darkness. Is passing away. And the true light. Is now shining. And then he speaks. Of that new commandment. To love. Our brother.

[56:07] They had. Indeed. Heard. From the beginning. How they should love. One another. Jesus himself. Had said. In John 13. 34. A new commandment.

[56:18] I give to you. That you love. One another. Just as I have loved you. That you love. One another. By this. All people will know. That you are my disciples. If you have love.

[56:29] For one another. Even then. It wasn't altogether new. The Old Testament said. In Leviticus 19. You shall love your neighbour. As yourself.

[56:40] But the idea. Of loving Christians. In particular. And loving them. With the same. Sacrificial love. That Christ had for us. That's new.

[56:52] Now that teaching. Now that teaching. Had been around. For 40 years. Or so. By the time. That John wrote. This letter. And yet.

[57:03] It was. Ever new. Ever fresh. Ever real. To every. True Christian. Because the light. Of Christ. Shining in us.

[57:14] Makes it real. Our love. For one another. Is one of the. Distinctive. Marks. True Christian. The hallmark.

[57:25] If you like. That shows. That we are gold. You can't. Manufacture it. You can't. Pretend.

[57:36] It's there. Because Christ. Has put it there. Indeed. It's there. Because Christ. Himself. Is there. Dwelling. Within us. His love.

[57:48] Radiating out. From within. From within. God. These people. Who otherwise. We might. Never. Even. Have spoken to.

[57:59] People. With different. Interests. From us. Different opinions. Different likes. And dislikes. We love. Because we recognize them.

[58:11] As our brothers. And sisters. Bought. With the same blood. And filled. With the same spirit. Now. If anyone. Lacks.

[58:22] This love. John says. He is. Not a Christian. Verse 9. Whoever says. He is in the light. And hates his brother. Is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother. Abides in the light.

[58:33] And in him. There is no cause. For stumbling. But whoever hates his brother. Is in darkness. And does not know. Where he's going. Because the darkness. Has blinded his eyes. And we could add.

[58:45] He doesn't know God. Either. Because God is light. And in him. Is no darkness. At all. Now. John will come back. To this theme.

[58:56] Of loving one another. Again. And again. And for that reason. I'm not going to say. Much more about it. Now. Except to say. That this love. Extends to.

[59:07] All. Of our brothers. And sisters. In Christ. Across the whole world. And across. Across denominations. Some we know.

[59:19] Most of them. We don't know. But they are. All. Family. That's why. Coming to church. Is so important. To us.

[59:30] This is our. Family gathering. And we want. To be. With the people. We love. So these.

[59:41] Then. Are the marks. Of a real. Christian. We love. God's law. And we love. God's people. So how do you do.

[59:52] In these tests. Sure. That none of us. Comes out. With flying colors. As pure gold. But if you're a Christian.

[60:03] There will be. At least. Some gold. If there really. Is nothing. If it's all. A fake. Then the answer.

[60:14] Is very simple. And the answer. Is Christ. John. Has already said. In verse one. If anyone. Does sin. We have an advocate. With the father.

[60:25] Jesus Christ. The righteous. And he. Is the propitiation. For our sins. If. In your heart.

[60:36] You find. No real love. God's commandments. And no real love. For God's people. The answer. Is not. To try harder. As if. A little extra effort.

[60:47] Would. Save us. But rather. The answer. Is to go back. To the beginning. Trust in Christ. As your Lord. And Savior.

[60:59] And he. Will transform you. Into spiritual gold. For. For. A little gold. But. With most of us. I'm sure. There is. Some gold.

[61:10] But. If we're honest. It's mixed. With impurities. Well. We too. Must go back. To Christ. And confess.

[61:20] These faults. To him. And whatever. Unrighteousness. Is found. In us. The blood. Of Christ. Will cleanse. Us from it. And then.

[61:32] In the power. Of the spirit. We must seek. To put these things. Right. God. Has. Many ways. Of purifying. His people. Sometimes.

[61:44] He will simply. Teach us. Through his word. The psalmist. Prayed for that. In Psalm 119. Verse 33. Teach me. O Lord. The way of your statutes. And I will keep it.

[61:54] To the end. Give me understanding. That I may keep your law. And observe it. With my whole heart. Lead me. In the path. Of your commandments. For I delight in it.

[62:06] There's an excellent prayer. For us all to pray. Sometimes. He will use. The fire of suffering. As we read. From Job.

[62:16] And from 1 Peter. Sometimes. He will simply. Reveal. More of himself. To us. Because the more.

[62:26] We see of the glory. Of God. The more. We will want. To be like him. Whatever. Method he uses. Our heartfelt.

[62:37] Desire. Must be. To become. Pure. Gold. God. Grant us. That desire. To the glory. Of his name. Amen.

[62:49] We are going to conclude. Our service now. With a hearing of a hymn. As the hymn by Francis Ridley.

[62:59] Have a go. Take my life. And let it be. Consecrated. Lord. To thee. Take my moments. And my days. Let them flow.

[63:10] In ceaseless praise. Take my life.

[63:21] And let it be. God. Say praise. Great. God. To thee. Take my moments.

[63:34] And my days. Let them flow. In ceaseless praise.

[63:46] Take my hands.

[63:57] And let them flow. God. See you in the song. I love.

[64:08] Take my feet. And let them be. Sweet. And you defy.

[64:19] Follow me. Take my voice.

[64:33] And let me sing. Always come before me. Take my букв.

[64:47] dosen Rontade.おおènees heaven. Author, en , 1 olof.

[65:03] 2 olof. Son, Thank you.

[65:41] Thank you.

[66:11] Thank you. Thank you.

[66:43] Thank you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[66:55] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[67:07] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[67:19] Amen. Amen. Amen.