WEBVTT

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 So, in this little section, John is helping us to see that righteousness matters, but

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 perhaps we can turn that into a question, perhaps a question many people, at least in

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 society, are asking if they ever think about it.

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 Is sin really a big deal?

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 I think in this text, John can help us to answer a key question for the Christian faith.

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 Perhaps we've had that conversation with a friend or a colleague, a family member, a

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 classmate, you know, the kind of conversation that would suggest that the idea of sin is

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 outdated, sounds kind of primitive and restrictive.

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 You know, why is the church always talking about it?

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 Why bother with it?

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 We live, of course, in a culture that encourages personal freedom.

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 It's my body, it's my choice.

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 And when many people look at Christianity today, their instinct is to think that we are on the

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 wrong side of social issues, and so perhaps we have very little to say about what is right

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 and what is wrong.

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 sin a big deal in our day and age.

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 How does it come up in Christian circles?

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 Again, maybe you've had some of these conversations or you've heard them being spoken about.

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 You know, if a person is saved by God's grace, does it really matter how we live?

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 Have we ever heard obedience being spoken about negatively?

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 That sounds an awful lot like legalism, whereas the God of the Bible is all about love and grace.

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 Many churches, many churches, many Christians have been tempted and have given way and have redefined sin for our generation in a bid to try and make the message of the Bible more acceptable.

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 And that's why I think John's text is really helpful.

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 And just to point out that right in the middle is where we see this coming out.

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 Verse 7, right in the middle of our text, Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.

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 So there is a temptation here.

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 There is pressure coming, and we know that it's coming from false teachers who we've met throughout the letters so far.

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 And John responds to the temptation by saying,

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 The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

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 Jesus Christ is the righteous one.

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 To belong to him is to live a life of righteousness.

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 But the false teachers are saying something quite different.

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 They're saying what we do in our body, that's no big deal.

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 We're all about the Spirit.

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 We're all about higher knowledge.

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 So the humdrum of what we do day in, day out is no big deal.

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 You can be righteous before God without living a righteous life.

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 That's the claim that John is tackling here.

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 And as we have seen John do so many times in this letter, he's going to do some fact-checking.

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 Is this in fact accurate?

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 Is it possible to say, I have been saved by grace, that I can be righteous without in any way pursuing righteousness?

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 And John's going to tell us, actually, no.

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 That's a dangerous lie from these false teachers.

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 And he's going to make clear to us in lots of different ways that righteousness in our lives does matter,

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 that sin truly is a big deal.

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 And to help to make his point, there's a repeating pattern within our text.

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 In a sense, he gives us three ways to approach the question.

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 So we can think about John asking the question, what is sin?

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 There in verse 4, but also in verse 8.

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 He helps the church to think about why did Jesus come in relation to sin in verse 5 and verse 8.

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 And then he helps Christians to ask the question, what family are we a part of?

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 In verse 6 and then at the bottom in verses 9 and 10.

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 So we're going to look at those questions and see that repeating pattern.

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 And as we do, we will see that because Jesus came to defeat and destroy sin in the lives of his people,

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 righteousness matters.

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 And that God's family are both called and empowered to reflect his righteousness in our lives.

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 But let's begin with this first question, what is sin?

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 And John gives us one of the key New Testament definitions here in verse 4.

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 Everyone who sins breaks the law.

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 In fact, sin is lawlessness.

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 Sin is to be anti-law.

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 And of course, the law in view here is the law of God.

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 So John, in line with the Bible teaching, understands that God gives his law.

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 That law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

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 That law is then summarized by Jesus.

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 Love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

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 And God's law is a reflection of his character and his will.

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 So it is unchanging and it is good.

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 But sin is lawlessness, which means people in sin rebel against that law.

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 That if God is the king and says, do this, sin is when we would seek to overthrow God's government, God's rule over us.

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 And when we do that, we're rejecting both the goodness of God's law and there is a rejection of the lawgiver himself.

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 We're going against the grain of the universe.

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 We're going against the grain of how we were made.

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 We were made to live under law and to experience freedom and joy within the proper limits that God sets.

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 That was life in the garden.

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 We're going against the grain of the earth.

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 It's also there whenever in a moment we find ourselves in a situation and we're reflecting and we can say, well, I can choose to obey.

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 And maybe life will get a little bit more hard and uncomfortable for me.

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 Or I will choose to go another way.

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 Then the lawlessness of sin is being shown in our own lives.

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 We're made to live under God's law.

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 But sin is lawlessness.

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 And so every day and throughout the day, you and I will find ourselves choosing, am I going to reflect God the Father's will in this place, in this conversation, in this situation?

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 Or am I going to reject His will in this place, in this situation?

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 What is sin?

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 Sin is lawlessness.

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 But that's not the only description of sin that John provides.

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 We can go down to verse 8.

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 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil.

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 Because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

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 So sin is devilish.

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 And John, again, is explaining to us the devil is the arch sinner.

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 He is the great sinner.

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 In fact, if you were to ask the question, where did sin and rebellion come from?

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 You know, the only answer that we get in the Bible is the devil.

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 That there is anti-law in heaven.

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 That Satan, the devil, persuaded some angels to rebel against the rule of God the King.

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 He wanted worship and glory for himself.

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 With the result that he has been cast out.

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 But he is still intent on destruction and opposing God.

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 And so his strategy?

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 Well, let me drag people to an anti-law way of thinking.

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 So that people would rebel against the God who made them.

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 So that people would rob God of glory and seek glory for ourselves.

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 And imagine that that brings freedom and that brings fulfillment.

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 I don't know if anybody's read Milton's Paradise Lost.

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 A very poetic, extended reflection on the strategy of the devil.

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 And John is saying really clearly that choosing the way of sin and saying that sin is a minimal issue and it's no big deal is choosing the way of the devil.

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 And that's to face the same outcome.

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 That just as the devil is cast out from God's presence, so we will find ourselves if we continue in habitual sin without repenting of it.

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 And so John knows how important it is to help the church in his day and how important it is for us in our day to understand that what we do with our body is very important and it's very important to God.

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 That our obedience and our righteousness really does matter.

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 That our talk about sin is not extreme and old school and primitive.

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 We need to let John, we need to let God's Word instruct us that sin is to be an active rebellion against God and His Word.

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 It's to place ourselves in the same camp as the devil.

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 And so perhaps the next time that we are tempted and we wonder to ourselves, well, does it really matter?

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 We can let John's warnings ring in our ears.

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 Sin is a big deal.

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 That it would serve as a fire alarm making us run to safety.

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 To see that the devil would have us to turn our back on God and reject His ways.

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 But it's dangerous.

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 Because sin is lawlessness.

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 Moving from there, but very much connected in John's logic, is the question, why did Jesus come?

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 So here's a second way into this question, does righteousness matter, is sin a big deal?

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 And it's all about understanding the person and work of Jesus.

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 Because actually this is crucial to giving a good answer, does sin matter?

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 Perhaps we've noticed that one of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, they write biographies of Jesus.

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 And one of the unique aspects of the Gospels is that while they give almost no attention at all to Jesus' early years,

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 you know, most modern biographies that we read will have extended things about where they were born and their school years and those kind of things.

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 And even the emphasis doesn't fall principally on the great achievements of Jesus' life, which are many.

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 Most attention is given to Jesus' death.

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 That's unique in the way biographies are written.

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 And it's really interesting as well to understand that Jesus himself lives his life anticipating his death.

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 He lives under the shadow of the cross.

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 And we know this as early as John chapter 2.

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 So the very first miracle that Jesus performs, turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana,

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 there is a point where he turns to his mother and says,

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 my hour has not yet come.

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 And that phrase, my hour, repeats throughout John's Gospel in the lips of Jesus,

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 referring to the time of his suffering, his death, and then his resurrection.

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 And so right at the beginning of his public ministry,

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 Jesus is anticipating the climax, his death on the cross.

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 The goal of his life is his sacrificial death.

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 And I think that's really helpful.

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 If we happen to have the privilege of reading the Gospel with a friend, with a family member, with a colleague,

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 one thing that we want them to discover is that,

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 that Jesus is so much more than a wise teacher and a miracle worker,

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 though of course he is those.

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 He is the Son of God who came to save by his self-giving love.

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 And John here wants to show us really clearly why Jesus came.

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 He actually uses the appear language for those of you who were here last week.

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 We thought about that language in the context of his second coming, the time when he returns.

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 So just to go back, 1 John 2, 28,

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 And now, dear children, continue in him so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed,

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 anticipating his return.

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 But this time, John will use the language of appearing with the focus on Jesus revealing his glory

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 in his earthly life and his ministry and especially his work on the cross as he goes to war on sin.

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 So verse 5, we find it there the first time,

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 But you know that he appeared, appearing with a display of glory,

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 so that he might take away our sins.

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 And in him is no sin.

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 So Jesus is the sinless one, the only sinless person who ever lived, the eternal Son of God.

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 And he has come to take away our sins.

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 Just as in the Old Testament there were those animal sacrifices provided to take away sins,

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 anticipating this still greater sacrifice.

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 Jesus is a far greater sacrifice than those animals.

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 He is perfect.

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 He has a sinless will.

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 He gives himself to die for his people.

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 Jesus is the only one who can truly say,

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 To do your will, I take delight.

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 Every point in his life, including at his death.

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 Jesus appeared so that he might take away our sins.

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 He dies in the place of sinners.

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 He takes our rebellion.

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 He dies for our rebel will.

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 And he gives forgiveness.

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 He gives his righteousness.

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 So that when we come to him and we trust in him,

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 our debt is cancelled and our spiritual account now reads that we are spiritual billionaires.

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 Loved like Jesus is loved.

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 So Jesus appeared to take away our sins.

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 And then down in verse 8, we hear the same language, reappear.

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 Second part of verse 8, the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

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 And so this in a sense connects us with Daniel 7.

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 If you were here this morning and this idea of this battle,

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 spiritual battle that rages through all creation and through all history,

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 the battle between good and evil,

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 the theme of so many of our great stories,

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 is the theme of the apocalyptic writing.

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 And it's the theme for John here.

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 And it's important, and we saw this this morning,

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 to recognize in this spiritual battle,

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 as Jesus comes to destroy the devil's work,

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 it's not a battle between equals.

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 Not even close.

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 God alone is on the throne.

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 God sets limits for the devil.

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 God is the judge.

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 That the victory of God and of good is never in doubt.

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 And what becomes clear in John's presentation

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 is that there is a crucial moment in the battle within history

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 connected to the appearing of Christ.

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 Connected to His mission at the cross.

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 That Jesus, as He goes to the cross,

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 destroys the work of the devil.

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 And it's interesting that that word,

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 it can be used to speak of something being untied and set free.

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 So you can think of an animal untied and set free.

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 But it's so resonant for us.

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 As Jesus dies and pays the penalty for our sin,

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 it's like our sin burden has been untied.

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 We are set free, no longer slaves to sin,

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 when we are trusting in Him.

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 But that language of destroy is also used of the tearing down

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 and destroying of buildings and of kingdoms.

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 And it reminds us that in Jesus' death on the cross,

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 the kingdom of darkness is conquered.

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 We heard it in Hebrews chapter 2, verses 14 and 15,

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 where the author there reminds us that the Son of God

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 became truly human in order to die for us,

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 and in dying for us, breaking the devil's power.

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 Since the children have flesh and blood,

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 he too shared in their humanity,

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 so that by his death,

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 he might break the power of him who holds the power of death,

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 that is the devil,

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 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery

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 by their fear of death.

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 When Jesus dies on the cross,

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 the devil's power is broken.

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 For the people of God,

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 we no longer need to live with a fear of death and condemnation,

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 that it is a rescue out of the kingdom of darkness

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 and we're brought into God's kingdom.

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 So when we're discussing,

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 you know, why does the Bible,

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 why does the church make a big deal about sin?

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 Isn't that so old school?

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 Or when perhaps we find ourselves

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 tempted to ignore, to reject,

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 to minimize God's will,

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 John will say to us,

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 here's what to do in that moment.

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 Go to the cross of Christ.

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 Understand that it took nothing less

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 than the eternal Son of God

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 suffering and dying in our place

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 to break the power of sin in our lives.

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 If sin didn't matter,

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 why in the world would the Father send His Son

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 to go through all that He did?

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 Why would Jesus embrace a life of betrayal

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 and rejection and humiliation

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 and suffering and death?

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 But God knows,

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 and Jesus knew,

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.279
 this is the only way

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.039
 to save a people for Himself.

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:23.099
 And in love, He did it.

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:26.259
 And so we know that sin matters

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:29.480
 because Jesus came to wage war

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:31.339
 and to win that war,

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:34.519
 to offer grace and forgiveness

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.460
 and life

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:39.019
 to all who will trust in Him.

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.740
 And that takes us

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:45.779
 to our third question,

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.259
 our third way into

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.240
 the larger question,

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.500
 is sin a big deal?

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.660
 Does righteousness matter?

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.279
 And it's the question,

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:55.279
 what family are we part of?

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:57.660
 So John returns to this theme

00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:59.579
 a few different times

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.400
 in this letter,

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:03.280
 drawing on the fact

00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:05.000
 that just as in human families

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:07.019
 there is a family likeness,

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:07.759
 you know,

00:21:07.780 --> 00:21:08.800
 sometimes that's in terms

00:21:08.800 --> 00:21:09.500
 of our appearance,

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.620
 sometimes that's in terms

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.900
 of character traits,

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.259
 and He says,

00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:14.759
 so it should be

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.960
 in the family of God

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:19.480
 that children should be

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.259
 like their Father,

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.380
 that we should be like

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.400
 Jesus our Savior.

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.420
 So last time,

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.500
 John was talking about

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.380
 Jesus as the righteous one

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:31.640
 and the pure one.

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.759
 And John continues

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.660
 that language of righteousness

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.440
 and belonging to the righteous one

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.720
 to remind us

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.039
 that those who belong

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.640
 to the righteous Lord Jesus

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.920
 should share that character,

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.019
 will share that character.

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.880
 And again,

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.059
 this isn't perfectly,

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.440
 John is very honest

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.059
 about that.

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:54.920
 In fact,

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.220
 John will say in chapter one

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.680
 that if we say we have no sin,

00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.519
 we're calling God a liar

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.940
 and the truth is not in us.

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.640
 But by God's grace,

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.600
 that righteousness

00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:07.440
 within the people of God

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.140
 is real

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:11.079
 and it will be growing.

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.720
 And so John wants to say

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.860
 there is this test

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:17.319
 of righteousness

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.500
 that can be applied

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.440
 and it can be applied

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.220
 to the believer

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.220
 to give us assurance

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.839
 assurance

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.920
 that we belong to God.

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.880
 And we begin to notice

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.759
 that, you know,

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.279
 John loves these contrasts,

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.220
 light and darkness.

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.799
 And now he's drawing

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.579
 this contrast

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.200
 between those

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.160
 who belong to God

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.480
 and those who don't.

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.559
 And he's been doing it

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.360
 all the way along.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.140
 By the time we get

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.900
 to chapter three

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.039
 verses nine to ten,

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.120
 we really get

00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:41.819
 to the climax

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.279
 of his thinking.

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.360
 So just read

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.220
 those verses again.

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.180
 No one who is born

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.720
 of God

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:49.039
 will continue to sin

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:50.920
 because God's seed

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.060
 remains in them.

00:22:52.580 --> 00:22:54.340
 They cannot go on sinning

00:22:54.340 --> 00:22:55.620
 because they have been

00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:56.620
 born of God.

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:59.180
 This is how we know

00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:01.600
 who the children of God are

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:03.400
 and who the children

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.580
 of the devil are.

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.860
 Anyone who does not do

00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.460
 what is right

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.220
 is not God's child,

00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:11.019
 nor is anyone

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.440
 who does not love

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:14.860
 their brother and sister.

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:16.959
 So he presents

00:23:16.959 --> 00:23:18.599
 a picture of two families,

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:20.139
 two families who could not

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:22.119
 be more different,

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:25.279
 either side of the tracks.

00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.639
 And as the Bible

00:23:26.639 --> 00:23:27.719
 will make clear,

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.659
 we are all part

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.619
 of one family

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:31.039
 or the other.

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.619
 And John says

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.599
 to the believer,

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.000
 you can apply

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.059
 the test of righteousness

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:40.459
 to find assurance

00:23:40.459 --> 00:23:43.000
 that you belong,

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:45.019
 that lifestyle

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.920
 is one way

00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.460
 to show

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.279
 which family

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:49.420
 we are a part of.

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.059
 So he's been developing

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.799
 this as he's gone along.

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.920
 So in chapter 2

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.259
 and verse 29,

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.220
 he talks about

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.740
 those who are righteous,

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.259
 everyone who does

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.759
 what is right

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.119
 has been born of him,

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:04.559
 versus chapter 3,

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.900
 verses 4 and 5,

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.660
 everyone who sins

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.619
 breaks the law.

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.319
 So there are those

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.640
 who pursue a life

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.220
 of righteousness

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.440
 and there are those

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:14.240
 who pursue a practice

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.779
 of sinning.

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.920
 That's distinct.

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.319
 Chapter 3, verse 6,

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.240
 there are those

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:21.460
 who live in Christ

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:24.519
 and there are those

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.160
 who because they

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.079
 continue in sin

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.259
 have not seen him

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.279
 and do not know him.

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.240
 Chapter 3, verse 7,

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.120
 there are those

00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:33.559
 who do what is right,

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.839
 following the one

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.640
 who has saved them,

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.720
 the righteous one.

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.400
 Chapter 3, verse 8,

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.500
 by contrast,

00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:42.080
 there are those

00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.880
 who do what is sinful.

00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:48.720
 Chapter 3, verse 9,

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.019
 there are those

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.259
 who do not continue

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.080
 in sin,

00:24:53.040 --> 00:24:55.160
 but then there are

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.759
 those who do.

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.500
 And we see it

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.120
 because they do not

00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.019
 love God's will

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.420
 and they do not

00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.540
 love God's people.

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.000
 They do not love

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.840
 the church.

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:08.079
 And so as John

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.759
 develops this contrast,

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.279
 what does he want

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.779
 to say to the church,

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.500
 to the believer?

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.799
 He wants to encourage us,

00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.079
 I think,

00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:17.599
 to reflect our father

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:19.740
 in our lifestyle.

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.379
 And again,

00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:22.199
 this is a familiar idea

00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:22.879
 when we think about

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:24.359
 our own families.

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.359
 As parents,

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.199
 perhaps we remember

00:25:28.199 --> 00:25:28.819
 as children,

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.980
 that talk,

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.319
 you know

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:33.259
 our family values.

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.279
 Let's see you live

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.880
 them out.

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.740
 Sometimes a sibling

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.720
 may be called in,

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.420
 for example,

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.259
 look at your elder brother.

00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:43.980
 Why not follow

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.720
 his example?

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.220
 It may not always

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.120
 work so well

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.980
 depending on our situation,

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.339
 but that's what God does.

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:50.799
 God,

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.519
 our Father,

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.160
 says,

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.900
 listen,

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.339
 in my family,

00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:56.839
 we do righteousness.

00:25:59.419 --> 00:26:00.779
 You're my child.

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.259
 Pursue righteousness.

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.659
 Christ,

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.599
 my son,

00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:08.199
 your elder brother

00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:09.000
 that are in the faith,

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.639
 he is the righteous one.

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.079
 Follow his example.

00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:16.419
 Because as Christians,

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.500
 we have this wonderful

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.599
 privilege of bearing

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.839
 the image of God,

00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.599
 the image of Christ

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.259
 in our lives.

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.500
 As we have been

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.919
 saved by grace,

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.299
 as we've been set free

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:30.579
 from our sinful loves

00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.939
 to now love God,

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:33.319
 we're being restored

00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:34.539
 into the image

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.839
 of God.

00:26:36.199 --> 00:26:37.500
 Our love for God

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.299
 is growing.

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.839
 And one reason

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.119
 why sin matters

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.279
 should always matter

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.839
 to us

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.480
 is because we don't want

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.059
 our Father

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.220
 to look bad.

00:26:46.699 --> 00:26:47.500
 We don't want

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.199
 his name

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:49.019
 to be dragged

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.099
 through the mud.

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.839
 Because we,

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.059
 as his representatives

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.159
 on the earth,

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.840
 are living

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.060
 in deliberate sin.

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:59.560
 So by God's grace,

00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.840
 we choose

00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:01.860
 obedience

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:04.920
 for the sake

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.500
 of making Jesus known,

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.420
 for making him

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:10.019
 seem like good news,

00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:12.820
 for giving glory

00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.860
 to God

00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.820
 as we pursue

00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.779
 his will.

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.779
 God's grace.

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:19.539
 And related to that,

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.319
 and this is especially

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.859
 in verses 9 and 10,

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:23.940
 John says

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.599
 to the Christian,

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.379
 be who

00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:26.539
 you truly

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.420
 are.

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.539
 What does he say

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.139
 to those

00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.920
 who are saved

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.559
 by grace?

00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.259
 What does he say

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.119
 is true

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.599
 of us?

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.399
 He says

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.019
 in verse 9,

00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.839
 we are born

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.660
 of God.

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.059
 He says

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.119
 God's seed

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.259
 remains

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.460
 in his children.

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.960
 That reality

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.160
 of spiritual life

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.599
 that leads

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.339
 to growth

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.480
 is in

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.099
 his children.

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.819
 And that means

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.019
 that we have

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.779
 a new power,

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.799
 both to say

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.460
 no to sin

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.140
 and to say

00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:00.240
 yes to righteousness.

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.619
 And so we cannot

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.460
 go on sinning

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.440
 because this new

00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.559
 life in us

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.680
 is telling us

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.240
 that righteousness

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.019
 is better

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.839
 by far.

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.200
 And again,

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.900
 of course,

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.720
 John is not

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.519
 saying that

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.579
 we can expect

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.220
 perfection

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.980
 in this life

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.900
 that waits

00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.519
 until we are

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.900
 with the Lord

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.460
 himself.

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.700
 But it does

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.359
 mean we don't

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:28.880
 want to sit

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.819
 comfortably with

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.160
 sin.

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.480
 We don't want

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:32.980
 to settle

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.200
 and say,

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:33.299
 well,

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.640
 that's just

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.380
 who I am.

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.059
 We don't want

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.480
 to settle

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.640
 for half-hearted

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.319
 commitment

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.419
 to pursuing

00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.779
 God's way,

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:41.519
 God's will,

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.539
 holiness.

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.000
 And so we need

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.559
 to expect

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.339
 that God's

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.279
 going to speak

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.740
 to us

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.399
 and going to

00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:53.439
 remind us.

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.899
 Just as happens

00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:55.480
 in a family

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.000
 or perhaps

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.799
 we find ourselves

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.759
 in a new company

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.419
 or we get promoted

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.379
 with a different team

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.859
 and sometimes

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.359
 we'll get those

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:02.700
 reminders.

00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.579
 That's not how

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.460
 we do things

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:04.879
 here.

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.500
 There will be

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.119
 mistakes.

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.919
 But there will

00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:10.439
 be growing

00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:11.000
 righteousness

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.619
 because that

00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.240
 seed of life

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:12.939
 has been planted

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.679
 in us.

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:15.419
 Because as a

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.519
 child of God

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:18.639
 we've been

00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.240
 given a love

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.679
 for him

00:29:19.679 --> 00:29:20.259
 and given

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.000
 a new heart

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.339
 and that

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:21.779
 leads to

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.599
 new loves.

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.279
 So at the

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.720
 end of verse

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:25.980
 10,

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.500
 anyone who

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.899
 does not

00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.279
 do what

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.639
 is right

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.099
 is not

00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.460
 God's

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:28.839
 child,

00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:29.559
 nor is

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:29.980
 anyone who

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.379
 does not

00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:30.879
 love their

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.460
 brother and

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:31.799
 sister.

00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:32.419
 To turn

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:32.740
 that on

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.139
 its head

00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.419
 and to

00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:33.819
 make it

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.359
 positive,

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.379
 anyone who

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.000
 does what

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.379
 is right

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.079
 is God's

00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.279
 child.

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.019
 Those who

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.579
 love their

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.079
 brothers and

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.359
 sisters,

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.139
 that's evidence

00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.879
 of belonging

00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.819
 in the

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.460
 family of

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.019
 God.

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.480
 Now we

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.339
 love God's

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:46.720
 love, not

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.579
 in a legalistic

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.579
 way, well if

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.220
 I work really

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.700
 hard then

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.240
 perhaps God

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.599
 will accept

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:50.740
 me.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.039
 No, we

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.500
 know we're

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.180
 accepted by

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:53.420
 grace and

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.440
 gratefully we

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.000
 respond.

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.879
 And part of

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.579
 that response

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.440
 is love for

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.579
 our spiritual

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.119
 family.

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.220
 We share the

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.980
 same DNA.

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.220
 We're bound

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.980
 together by

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.480
 the Spirit

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.220
 in Christ

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.660
 and so

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.220
 there is

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.860
 a new

00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:09.120
 love.

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.059
 It's in a

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.539
 big deal.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.460
 Does

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.059
 righteous

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.720
 living

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.779
 matter?

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.220
 In these

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.819
 few verses

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.380
 John gives

00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.740
 us a very

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.519
 clear yes

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.880
 in these

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.440
 three different

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.100
 ways,

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.440
 reminding us

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.160
 that sin

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.880
 stands in

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.519
 opposition

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:29.640
 to God,

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.480
 who in

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.039
 Christ has

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.519
 come to

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.079
 love and

00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:32.640
 to save.

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:35.960
 He puts

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.180
 it in

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.700
 terms of

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.480
 the work

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.200
 of Christ.

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.140
 He came

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.080
 specifically

00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:42.500
 to wage

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.200
 war, to

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.580
 win the

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.800
 victory over

00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:45.720
 sin and

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.420
 without that

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.280
 reality, without

00:30:47.280 --> 00:30:48.160
 the gospel, we

00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:48.980
 would be slaves

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.580
 to sin.

00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:50.820
 We'd be heading

00:30:50.820 --> 00:30:51.700
 for the same

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.759
 judgment as

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.200
 the devil

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.860
 himself.

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.920
 And John

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.600
 reminds us

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.280
 the Father

00:30:59.280 --> 00:31:00.620
 by His grace

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.780
 places His

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:03.639
 life in

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:03.899
 His

00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.420
 children,

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.099
 adopting us

00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:07.099
 by His

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.960
 grace.

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:09.940
 And as

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.599
 David Jackman

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.200
 so helpfully

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.740
 puts it,

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.000
 sin is

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.960
 inconsistent

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.859
 with

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.519
 sonship.

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.039
 So we're

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:22.339
 invited to

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:22.879
 take sin

00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.480
 seriously,

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.180
 we're invited

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:27.420
 to gratefully

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.339
 receive the

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:28.839
 work of

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.379
 Christ,

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.640
 and we're

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.420
 invited to

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.220
 live our

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.080
 days as

00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:34.580
 God's

00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:35.120
 children,

00:31:36.020 --> 00:31:36.500
 gladly

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.120
 pursuing

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.820
 righteousness

00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:39.120
 as we've

00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:39.820
 been saved

00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:40.720
 by the

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.120
 righteous

00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:41.520
 one.

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:51.359
 whoever

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359


00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359


00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359


00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359


00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359


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00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.359