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 can help us to test our own view of sin. And I think that's always something that's important

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 for us to consider. My attention was drawn this week to a relatively recent Barna Institute survey,

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 so that's a group that often kind of do surveys about sort of Christian belief. And this was a

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 survey done within Christian churches that revealed some striking, alarming things. Only 44%

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 of those who were surveyed, for example, believed that Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life.

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 52% believed it was possible to earn one's salvation by good works, says people, within churches.

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 And only 35% believed that God wants His people to be holy, that growing in holiness is something

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 that matters. What do those statistics reveal? Well, they certainly reveal error and confusion

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 about the person and work of Jesus. It also, in turn, reveals confusion about the reality of sin,

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 which in turn shows confusion about the truth that God's grace is and will always be the only basis

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 for the hope of salvation. But also, it reveals to us that the warnings of John's letter are warnings

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 that God's people always need to hear. So, the situation facing John, we thought about this a

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 little bit last week, he is confronting head-on some false teaching. There were some people in first

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 century Ephesus who were separating Jesus so that they said He was not fully God and fully man.

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 And one of the truths, the teachings that they were bringing related to that is that because the

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 spirit is more significant than the body and that Jesus never took on a body, they were teaching what

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 we do in and with our bodies actually doesn't matter. That holiness in life doesn't matter,

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 that it's about some kind of spirit connection. So, we come to this section of John's letter,

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 and what we're going to hear is him recording for us three false slogans that were being produced by

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 these false teachers, wrong answers to the problem of sin. And he's going to invite us to test our own

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 view of sin against a key statement, test their teaching against a key statement also, that God is light

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 in him that is no darkness. And then we're also going to discover from John God's response, God's answer

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 to the very real problem of sin in our lives, as we'll discover it centers on Jesus, who last week we

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 encountered as the Word of Life. But let's begin here in verse 5 with the test that John invites us to

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 apply. So, verse 5, this is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, God is light, in him

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 there is no darkness at all. So, John is bringing Jesus' message about God to the church. And in summary,

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 he says this is what Jesus would want us to know about God, God is light. Think about the property of

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 light. Light is always shining, it is always revealing. And when applied to God, it's saying

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 that God is always shining, revealing his purity, his holiness, his majesty, his perfection. And that's

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 the consistent message of the Bible. The book of Leviticus, we hear God say, be holy because I am holy.

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 In the prophet Habakkuk, he says, your eyes, speaking of God, are too pure to look on evil.

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 We could go to so many places and we would discover this God who is holy is other than us,

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 set apart from us. There's no contamination or impurity with God. And that has implications then

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 for how we live. Think about what Bob read for us from John chapter 3, that invitation to come to Jesus

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 to find life and to walk in the light. One of the problems was people were choosing darkness instead

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 of light. Later in John chapter 12, Jesus would say, walk in the light while you have the light,

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 so that you may become children of the light. It's an interesting idea. We become what we behold.

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 You'll look to Jesus as the one who is light and we will become more like him. But John is saying to us,

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 God is light, there is no darkness in God whatsoever. To consider God is to consider his intense,

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 perfect glory and beauty. John says, this is the message that we heard from Jesus. We're declaring to

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 you. Jesus, who we know never compromised on sin. Jesus who came as the only answer to sin.

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 And so as John is listening to false teaching, he wants the readers of his day and every day

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 to understand that it is foolish, indeed it is dangerous, to imagine I can have fellowship with

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 a God who is perfect light, but not seek to walk in the light of his truth and his holiness.

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 John is going to make plain that it's a denial of God's truth also to say that any Christian or any

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 church will not struggle with sin, will not need cleansing from Christ. And one of the false

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 teachings is that we've moved beyond that. We've reached a higher level. We've reached perfect. No,

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 we will always struggle with sin. We always need cleansing. And John's desire as he sets about with

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 this statement and then approaching these errors is to see a church who's walking in the light.

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 That's the language of verse 7. If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with

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 one another and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. This is what he wants for us,

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 to be a church who are walking in the light together. We're allowing God's glory and truth and God's

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 grace to shine on us, causing us to be honest about sin and causing us to delight in God's grace,

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 as the good news of the Lord Jesus also shines in the gospel. Because God is light and there's no

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 darkness in him. And remember, John has already told us that Jesus is fully God. So Jesus is light

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 and there's no darkness in him. He is the one who came to shine the light of God's glory and grace in

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 the world. Jesus is the one who came to take and to endure the darkness of sin and its judgment so that

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 we can take our sin into the light, so that we can live in the light, so we can have fellowship with God.

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 And so we need to be clear on the identity of Jesus and we need to be clear about the reality of sin.

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 And that's why he takes us to these lies that we need to reject from false teachings. So in verses 6

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 and 10, we're going to see three of them. But even before we get back into our text, I think we've seen

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 again this week that whenever there are significant debates going on, and it's just a feature of news

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 reporting nowadays that we'll hear these fact-checking claims and statements being made. Is that thing

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 that has just been reported, can it be verified? Are there statistics to back it up? Are there

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 time-stamped photographs that give proof of what's being reported on? And so John wants to fact-check

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 some slogans from these false teachers and to check them against what's true of God. If God is light,

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 does what they say about sin really stack up? And we'll see that it doesn't, and so we must reject

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 them as error. So there's three slogans. Here is the first one. It's here in verse 6. The first slogan

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 of these false teachers, we deny that sin breaks our fellowship with God. If we claim to have fellowship

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 with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But there were a group of

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 false teachers saying, this body, it's just like an envelope. The stuff that matters is what's inside.

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 What we do with our bodies and our body really doesn't matter. We can claim a pure spiritual

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 connection with God regardless of our behavior. That what we do in life is not going to affect the

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 fact that we can have fellowship with God. John says, it's nonsense. If we are walking in darkness,

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 and the imagery of walking, this is our habit, this is our pattern. If our direction of travel

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 is to go against the God who is light, it is impossible to still enjoy fellowship with God.

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 It is impossible, and we know this, for light and dark to mix. It is impossible to imagine we can have

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 fellowship with the God of perfect light and holiness if we are not being honest and dealing with our sin.

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 Again, we hear that all through Scripture. Psalm 5 verse 4, you are not a God who is pleased with

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 wickedness. That's really straightforward. Psalms 66, a personal reflection. If I had cherished sin in my

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 heart, the Lord would not have listened. Isaiah 59, here's what the prophet says.

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 Your iniquities have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden His face from you so that He

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 will not hear. So, if we find ourselves saying, I don't need to go to the cross for cleansing.

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 I don't need to confess sin. If we say to ourselves, I don't need to worry about personal holiness.

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 If I believe that God's grace gives me a free pass to act however I want, John would say to us,

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 we're believing a lie. We're out of fellowship with God, and we're out of touch with reality.

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 That's the first slogan and John's response. Here's the second one. This is another thing the false

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 teachers were saying. They were saying, we deny that sin exists in our nature. Verse 8, if we claim to be

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 without sin, we deceive ourselves, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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 Think about that. Even today, when the sun was shining, one thing that we know about the light,

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 when it shines, it exposes. You clean your windows, the sun shines, and you see the smears that you

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 hoped weren't there. The sun shines, and the dust on your TV screen dances before your very eyes.

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 And that light of God that shines and exposes

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 shines a light on the sin, the impurity, the imperfections in our hearts and in our lives.

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 And so the teaching of these false teachers is clearly error, as they claim sin is no longer a

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 problem to us. We have gained a victory over it. John says, to think like that is to lie to ourselves

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 and to not have the truth. Even to think about some of the texts that we have considered recently in

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 church. To go back to the imagery of Genesis 4, God very clearly says to Cain, sin is like a wild

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 animal. It's like a predator. It crouches. It's ready to attack. If we say, there's no sin in me,

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 I don't have a problem with sin, we are already doomed. Isaiah 6. Think about the prophet's response

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 as he was exposed to the reality of God's majesty and holiness. It's not, here is one in an equal

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 measure with me. It's, woe is me, I am undone. Or the testimony of the apostle Paul in Romans 7,

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 speaking of that ongoing war within. And remember, he's an apostle. But he would testify, what I want to do,

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 I don't do. What I hate to do, because I know it's wrong, I do. Who will rescue me? Who will deliver me?

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 Think about Jesus giving us the Lord's Prayer, encouraging us to pray, forgive us our sins,

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 and lead us not into temptation. It is foolish, it is dangerous to deny that sin exists in our nature.

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 And actually, the real experience of mature believers runs contrary to this as well.

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 That the more that we are exposed to the reality of who God is, that the more we understand

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 of God's character, of His glory, of His holiness, the more we begin to see the extent of God's love

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 in contrast to our own lack of love, mature believers would testify often to being more aware

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 of personal sin as the years go by. To deny then that we battle sin in our nature

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 is a dangerous error. Because again, think about that practically. If I think my sin is not a problem,

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 I'm not going to go to Jesus for cleansing. Or I'm not going to ask the Spirit to help me to resist.

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 And we would miss the promise and the assurance of verse 9.

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 If we confess our sins, instead of claiming to be without sin, He is faithful and just,

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 and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. There's a wonderful promise,

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 a wonderful pardon that we will miss out if we deny the reality of ongoing sin.

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 There's a third slogan in here, a third error of the false teachers.

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 We deny that sin is seen in our lives. Listen to how John frames it in verse 10.

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 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar. We make God out to be a liar,

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 and His Word is not in us. For John, this is the worst. This is the worst lie,

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 is to accuse God of lying if we claim, I am perfect. I don't have any form of sin problem.

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 What makes this so serious? Well, it simply goes against what God reveals in His Word.

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 Isaiah 53 is a wonderful promise of the gospel, but it speaks to the universal reality of sin. We all

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 like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. Or Psalm 14, all have turned away,

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 all have become corrupt. There is no one who does good. To claim we have not sinned makes the gospel

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 of no value, makes God's Word out to be a lie. Because the gospel says that sin is so serious a thing,

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 that nothing less than the sacrificial death of the Son of God could forgive it.

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 But they say, I don't sin. For I don't need Jesus. I've reached perfection by myself.

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 How we think about sin matters because it will have implications for how we think about Jesus

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 and how we respond to the gospel. There's lots of wonderful stories told about Spurgeon,

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 a 19th century preacher down in London. Here is one of them. Spurgeon was having dinner with a man

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 who over the course of that time was clearly showing evidence of believing that theology that claimed that

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 he had now reached that higher level of perfection. He was done with the battle with sin.

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 And Spurgeon's wonderful response was to throw a glass of water in his face,

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 at which point the man had a rather angry reaction, revealing that sin was still lurking.

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 As Spurgeon put it, the old man in you is not dead. He simply fainted and could be revived with a cup

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 of water. John warns us. We can lie to ourselves about sin. And we lie to ourselves about sin when we take it lightly.

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 When we say, well, I am saved by grace, so how I live now doesn't matter.

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 We take sin lightly and we lie about it when we redefine it to make it seem and sound more acceptable.

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 When we minimize it. When we turn a blind eye and allow certain sins to become, to use Jerry Bridges' phrase,

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 respectable sin.

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 And that's why we need to take our view of sin and apply it to that test. God is light, no darkness in him.

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 He is pure, shining holiness.

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 And John wants to expose their wrong thinking.

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 So that, because he's a pastor and he cares,

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 he wants his readers then and now

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 to understand

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 the darkness of sin.

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 The danger of not dealing with sin.

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 So that we would understand our desperate need,

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 our ongoing need

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 of the gospel of the Lord Jesus

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 and the purifying

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 that he brings.

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 So that takes us,

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 thirdly, to the true answer

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 that we need.

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 Okay, so

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 we've said this. Here's

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 John's statement. God is light.

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 God is pure and holy.

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 And he's making

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 clear by rejecting false

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 teaching that we are not pure and

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 holy, that we do sin.

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 But he says this as well.

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 We are called to live in the light.

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 And we're invited

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 into fellowship with God.

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 And we should be asking ourselves,

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 well, how is that possible?

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 God is perfectly holy

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 and we are not.

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 Light and dark cannot mix.

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 So how can this be?

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 God is perfectly

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 and we should be

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 the answer

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 The answer comes

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 not by trying to explain

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 away sin.

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 The answer comes

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 not by lowering the bar

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 of God's holiness.

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 Our response

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 isn't to hide away

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 in the darkness,

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 but it's to recognize

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 God's provision.

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 It's to understand

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 that God's answer

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 to the problem of sin

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 is His Son,

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 the Lord Jesus.

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 The Word of life

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 and the light of the world.

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 And so at the beginning

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 of chapter 2,

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 Pastor John wants to do

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 two things for us.

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 First of all,

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 he wants to strike

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 the right balance.

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 Have a look at verse 1.

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 He holds these two statements

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 in a kind of a tension.

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 So he says,

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 first of all,

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 I write this to you

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 so that you will not sin.

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 So John never wants

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 the church

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 to take sin too lightly.

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 He says,

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 here's my goal

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 that you do not sin.

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 That's the direction

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 he wants our life

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 to be heading in.

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 Okay?

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 We know that that

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 will only be true

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 for us in glory,

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 but it still sets

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 the direction of travel

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 for the Christian life.

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 That we are pursuing holiness.

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 We are pursuing obedience.

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 So he wants to make clear

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 that we don't take sin lightly,

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 but then as a pastor,

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 he doesn't want to be

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 too severe also.

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 Because immediately after,

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:26.740
 he says,

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:28.440
 but if anybody does sin,

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.860
 we have an advocate

00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.360
 with the Father,

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.100
 Jesus Christ.

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.799
 So he says,

00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.759
 if we do sin,

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.200
 recognize this,

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.039
 rest in this,

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.779
 trust in this,

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:39.639
 God has graciously provided

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.759
 the answer

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.500
 to the problem of sin.

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.720
 And this is our good news.

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.700
 Having considered

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.700
 the bad news,

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.720
 the reality that actually

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.859
 we do have a sin problem,

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.220
 John then turns

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.259
 to give us gospel.

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.299
 That God has provided Jesus

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.099
 as the answer

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.460
 to our sin problem.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.379
 And this is good news

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:58.920
 because it means

00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.619
 we can be honest.

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:01.959
 We don't need to try

00:23:01.959 --> 00:23:02.879
 and hide our sin

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.639
 to make ourselves

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.679
 look or feel better

00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.439
 than we are.

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.119
 We're not invited

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:09.199
 to try and cover over our sin

00:23:09.199 --> 00:23:10.419
 or to try and turn over

00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:11.639
 a new leaf.

00:23:11.959 --> 00:23:12.859
 We're not to try

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.239
 and fix it ourselves

00:23:14.239 --> 00:23:15.639
 because we simply cannot.

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.159
 Instead,

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.379
 we are to look to Jesus

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.559
 and trust in Jesus.

00:23:19.379 --> 00:23:20.679
 And to help us with that,

00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:23.599
 he gives us three wonderful truths

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:25.039
 about Jesus.

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.359
 In quick succession,

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.420
 and we need them all,

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.759
 and it's a wonderful picture.

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.659
 Here's the first wonderful truth

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.279
 about Jesus.

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.899
 He is our advocate.

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.839
 If anybody does sin,

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.539
 we have an advocate

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.619
 with the Father,

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.240
 Jesus Christ,

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.319
 the righteous one.

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.039
 So we're taken

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.799
 into the courtroom.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.440
 Here is our advocate,

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:47.980
 Jesus.

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.399
 He comes alongside us

00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:52.299
 to plead our case.

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.740
 He mediates for us.

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.599
 He speaks to the Father

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.960
 on behalf of his people.

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.659
 And remember who Jesus is.

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.539
 He is the God-man.

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.960
 So having worked for us

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.539
 on the earth,

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.379
 John is saying,

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.119
 Jesus now continues

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.859
 to work for us in heaven,

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:13.099
 pleading our case

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:15.059
 on the basis of his

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.559
 perfect, completed work.

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.799
 Claiming his all-sufficient merit

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:22.539
 as the basis why

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.079
 people with faith

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.920
 should be accepted.

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.659
 And John wants to stress

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:31.039
 how reliable Jesus is.

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.859
 In a law court,

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:34.099
 if we ever find ourselves

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:36.059
 in trouble with the law,

00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.680
 doubtless we will want

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:39.359
 the very best person

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.500
 to represent us

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:42.200
 if we are to get

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.819
 the verdict that we desire.

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.619
 And so John wants to tell us

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.940
 who Jesus is,

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.559
 this advocate for his people,

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.720
 for those who trust him.

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.099
 Notice how he describes Jesus.

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.220
 So he is our advocate.

00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:55.839
 Secondly,

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:59.179
 he is the righteous one.

00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.240
 See that there

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.659
 at the end of verse one?

00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:02.919
 We have an advocate

00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:03.519
 with the Father,

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.519
 Jesus Christ,

00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:06.119
 the righteous one.

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.940
 And notice that John

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:09.419
 calls him Jesus Christ,

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:11.119
 wants to keep reminding us

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.240
 he is fully God,

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.179
 he is fully man.

00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:14.099
 This is the one

00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.960
 who has been anointed

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:17.360
 to be God's appointed Savior.

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.799
 And as fully God

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.420
 and fully man,

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.600
 he is righteous in his being.

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.680
 God is righteous,

00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:25.759
 therefore Jesus is righteous.

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.519
 He is the standard

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.340
 of perfection,

00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:29.680
 and he never shifts

00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.400
 from that line

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.140
 and that standard.

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.519
 And you can read the Gospels

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.460
 and you meet one

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.140
 who is sinlessly perfect,

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.779
 righteous in all his ways,

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.259
 in all his words.

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.340
 He was righteous

00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:40.559
 in his being,

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.579
 he was righteous

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.000
 in his life,

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.619
 always doing

00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:45.519
 the Father's will,

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.980
 always keeping

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.079
 the Father's command.

00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:51.799
 His life given

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.659
 as a perfect,

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:54.919
 righteous sacrifice.

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.240
 And again,

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.500
 it reminds us

00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:01.220
 that getting the identity

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:03.000
 of Jesus right matters.

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:06.480
 Those 44%

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.139
 of people polled

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.079
 who didn't believe

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.799
 Jesus was sinlessly perfect,

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.859
 they can have

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.839
 no assurance

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:15.119
 that Jesus

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:16.000
 is the basis

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.180
 for their salvation.

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.700
 We need to know

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.279
 that he is

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.139
 the sinless

00:26:20.139 --> 00:26:21.319
 Son of God,

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.240
 that he is

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.159
 the righteous one,

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.000
 and as such,

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:26.099
 he is perfectly qualified

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:28.359
 to be God's answer

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:30.440
 to the sin problem

00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.779
 and to be the one

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:34.099
 who is the perfect mediator.

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.259
 As God,

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.700
 he represents God to us.

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.139
 As man,

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.419
 he represents us

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:41.200
 before God.

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:44.900
 But John's not finished

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:46.720
 describing Jesus

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.700
 as the true answer

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.320
 we need.

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.580
 He is our advocate,

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.640
 he is the righteous one,

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.019
 but he is also

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:55.279
 our sacrifice.

00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.759
 Look at verse 2,

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.900
 he is the atoning sacrifice,

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.560
 the word there

00:26:59.560 --> 00:27:00.080
 is literally

00:27:00.080 --> 00:27:01.640
 propitiation,

00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.720
 for our sins,

00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.180
 not only for ours,

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.320
 but also for the sins

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.099
 of the whole world.

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.419
 So this is our advocate,

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.240
 and he is righteous,

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.419
 and he is also

00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:12.799
 our sacrifice.

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.339
 So the basis

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.419
 for his plea

00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:17.119
 as our advocate,

00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:19.279
 when we sin,

00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.220
 what's our hope?

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.240
 Is that Jesus,

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.139
 our righteous one,

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.960
 has completed

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.519
 God's plan

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.439
 of salvation

00:27:27.439 --> 00:27:29.659
 by way of offering

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:30.099
 himself

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:32.720
 as a perfect sacrifice.

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.680
 We believe and trust

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.400
 that the judgment

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.779
 that should fall on us,

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.039
 the wrath of God

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.799
 that we deserve,

00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:40.680
 has been diverted,

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.940
 been turned away from us,

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.620
 and it's fallen

00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:44.180
 on the Son of God

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:46.039
 instead of on us.

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.460
 We believe and trust

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.420
 that in Jesus

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.079
 our sin

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.400
 is paid for.

00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.759
 The substitute

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.840
 has taken the penalty

00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:56.040
 for law-breaking.

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.680
 That as he says

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.400
 in verse 7,

00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.140
 the blood of Jesus

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:01.380
 purifies

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:03.500
 from all sin.

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.420
 The effect

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.680
 of Jesus' cross work

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:08.320
 is that the stain

00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:09.280
 of sin

00:28:09.280 --> 00:28:11.400
 is cleansed

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:14.120
 for those

00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:15.160
 who have him

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:17.200
 as our righteous

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.240
 advocate,

00:28:18.540 --> 00:28:19.840
 who trust him

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.579
 as our sacrifice

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:24.299
 dealing with our sin.

00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.839
 And so John

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:28.339
 presents this statement

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.699
 about Jesus

00:28:29.699 --> 00:28:30.899
 inviting the church,

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.939
 inviting us to think,

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.799
 isn't Jesus

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.980
 a better answer

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:37.019
 to the problem of sin

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:39.559
 than denying it?

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:42.539
 Than being overconfident

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.539
 about our ability

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.639
 to overcome it?

00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.439
 Isn't this a better answer

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:48.240
 than rejecting

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.679
 what is clearly true

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.480
 because we see it

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.420
 and we experience it

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.740
 and we feel sin's sadness

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.380
 and effects

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.220
 in our lives?

00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:57.700
 It's the gospel.

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.519
 This is better.

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.320
 This is good news.

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:02.019
 It reveals how deep

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.259
 God's love is,

00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:03.940
 how deep

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.340
 his grace

00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.400
 is truly.

00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.799
 God sees everything.

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.180
 God sees everything

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.779
 about us.

00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.960
 God sees the sins

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.460
 that we try

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:14.799
 and hide

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.539
 from ourselves,

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.480
 the sins

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.000
 that we seek

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.539
 to hide

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.599
 from others

00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.660
 and yet,

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.720
 when we are in Christ Jesus,

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.420
 he loves us.

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.559
 And because

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.720
 the penalty

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.599
 has been taken

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.660
 and because

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.500
 the righteous one

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.839
 has given himself,

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:35.480
 God can look at us

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:37.140
 and be as pleased

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.599
 with us

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.200
 as he is

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.900
 with his son,

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:39.680
 Jesus.

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:42.539
 When we are in Jesus,

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.200
 we can walk

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.980
 in fellowship

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.779
 with our God.

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.120
 The blood of Jesus

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.299
 really does

00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.620
 cleanse us

00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:53.360
 from our sins.

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.620
 And so the promise

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.519
 of verse 7

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.420
 is ours.

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.200
 If we walk

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.100
 in the light,

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.019
 as he is in the light,

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.860
 we have fellowship

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.779
 with one another.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.680
 And remember,

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.580
 John has already said

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:06.060
 to have fellowship

00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:06.779
 with one another.

00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.080
 The foundation of that

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.879
 is having fellowship

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.519
 with God.

00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.399
 So we can walk

00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:12.859
 in the light,

00:30:12.919 --> 00:30:13.819
 the light of truth.

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:17.279
 That for a local church,

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.519
 for a body

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.099
 of believers,

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.480
 we can be a fellowship

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:22.159
 honest about sin

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:24.539
 and honest

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.599
 about grace

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.799
 as we enjoy fellowship

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:30.059
 with the living God.

00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:32.000
 And notice

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.699
 how John

00:30:32.699 --> 00:30:33.559
 closes.

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.679
 He is the atoning

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.380
 sacrifice

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.660
 for our sins

00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:40.420
 and not only

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.980
 for ours

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.600
 but also

00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:42.299
 for the sins

00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.279
 of the whole world.

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.180
 What is John

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.799
 saying

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.900
 about Jesus

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.299
 there?

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.340
 He is saying

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.880
 that because

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.160
 Jesus is

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:54.320
 the eternal

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.220
 Son of God,

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:57.039
 His sacrifice

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.519
 has eternal

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.160
 virtue

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.620
 and value

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.380
 so it is

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:02.080
 a sacrifice

00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:02.600
 that is

00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:03.680
 sufficient

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:05.820
 for the whole world.

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:08.080
 John

00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:08.580
 is not

00:31:08.580 --> 00:31:09.120
 saying

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.420
 that everybody

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.000
 in the world

00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.920
 is going to be saved

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.880
 regardless of their

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:13.840
 response to Jesus

00:31:13.840 --> 00:31:14.920
 but he is saying

00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.519
 Jesus

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.660
 is a Savior

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.360
 big enough,

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.420
 great enough

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:20.019
 for everyone.

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.620
 So we can

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.620
 confidently share

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.200
 the gospel

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.100
 with anybody

00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:23.840
 that we meet.

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.560
 We can say

00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:25.920
 to them

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.880
 believe in the Lord

00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.220
 Jesus

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.860
 and you will

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.420
 be saved

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.080
 and your sin

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:30.019
 will be

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.720
 forgiven.

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:34.620
 So the truth

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.400
 about Jesus

00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.680
 the truth

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.259
 about sin

00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.660
 the truth

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.539
 about salvation

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.759
 actually then

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.100
 fuels our

00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:42.019
 mission

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.600
 gives us

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.420
 confidence

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.100
 in sharing

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.880
 the gospel.

00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.839
 In the first

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.339
 century

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:51.079
 there were

00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.579
 voices

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.380
 beginning to

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:52.900
 appear

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.600
 even within

00:31:53.600 --> 00:31:54.039
 the church

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.500
 saying sin

00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.160
 is no big

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.579
 deal.

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.460
 In the 21st

00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:56.900
 century

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:58.180
 there are still

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.200
 plenty of voices

00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.019
 even within

00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.600
 the church

00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:01.299
 saying sin

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:02.620
 is no big

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:02.980
 deal.

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.200
 That's primitive

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:05.100
 we're beyond

00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:05.720
 all that.

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.559
 Holiness

00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:08.400
 is optional.

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.360
 To believe

00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.860
 that is to

00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:12.720
 believe the lie.

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.700
 What we need

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.620
 is God's truth

00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:17.080
 that holiness

00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:18.840
 does matter.

00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.720
 It matters

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.319
 to God

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.240
 it matters

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.360
 for our

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.740
 lives

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.460
 and because

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.420
 that is true

00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.440
 the gospel

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.460
 is good news.

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.500
 It is God's

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.360
 real answer

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.980
 to our

00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.460
 real problem

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.480
 and when

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.180
 we believe

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.420
 it

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.539
 that all

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.259
 our hope

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.460
 of forgiveness

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.259
 and being

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.759
 right with

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.000
 God

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.039
 rests in

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:38.740
 the Lord

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.160
 Jesus

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.519
 and his

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.259
 finished work

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.420
 then it

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.740
 gives us

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.240
 freedom.

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.880
 It gives us

00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.480
 freedom to

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.900
 confess

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.279
 our sin

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.980
 with that

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.440
 assurance

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:49.779
 that we

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.220
 will be

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.620
 forgiven.

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.279
 It gives

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.620
 us the

00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:52.980
 freedom

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.960
 even to

00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.539
 communicate

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.299
 hard truths

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.319
 with a

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:57.720
 sense of

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.140
 hope

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.200
 hope.

00:32:58.860 --> 00:32:59.280
 We can

00:32:59.280 --> 00:32:59.840
 speak to

00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:00.200
 people

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.880
 about

00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.540
 the

00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:02.000
 serious

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.480
 nature

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:02.759
 of

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.100
 sin

00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:04.460
 and

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.860
 invite

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:05.100
 them

00:33:05.100 --> 00:33:05.280
 to

00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:05.660
 trust

00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:05.880
 in

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.160
 Jesus

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:06.440
 with

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.160
 hope

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.840
 because

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.440
 the gospel

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.160
 is true

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:10.400
 and we

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:10.620
 have

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.140
 freedom

00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:12.460
 as God's

00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:12.700
 people

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.700
 to celebrate

00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.620
 God's

00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.120
 grace

00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:16.000
 as we

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.540
 find it

00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:17.020
 in the

00:33:17.020 --> 00:33:17.240
 Lord

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.640
 Jesus.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.380
 Let's

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:19.700
 pray

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.540
 together.

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:22.500
 Lord

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.079
 God

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.500
 we

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.079
 thank you

00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.379
 that we

00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:24.700
 come

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.139
 before

00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.379
 the

00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:25.680
 God

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:25.879
 who

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.200
 is

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.680
 light

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.440
 that

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:27.599
 there

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:27.799
 is

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.059
 no

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.639
 darkness

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.279
 in

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.579
 you

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.339
 whatsoever

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:32.240
 that

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.579
 you

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.659
 have

00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:33.940
 not

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.259
 will

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.599
 not

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.099
 cannot

00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:35.740
 sin

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.720
co

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.079
 to

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.180
 sense