WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.780 Warm welcome to all of you who chose to be here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:04.259 --> 00:00:05.120 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:13.540 If you have a copy of God's Word, go ahead and turn with me to 1 John 1. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:18.320 We'll be looking at the first few verses this morning. 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:23.519 1 John 1. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:53.500 1 John 1. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:05.520 1 John 1. 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:07.960 Let's pray. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:10.939 Lord, we are thankful for your word. 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.439 We are thankful for what it does, 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:17.799 how it goes around the world with ministries like Gideon's. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:20.439 Father, for what it does in our own hearts, 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:23.479 may we cherish it, may we love it, 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:25.819 and may we worship you because of it. 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:27.459 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:30.000 Is that me? 00:01:30.679 --> 00:01:31.919 Sound like I'm in a wind tunnel. 00:01:31.919 --> 00:01:32.519 I don't know. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:36.159 All right. 00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:37.560 All right. 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:42.079 So there's a skill that most of us don't acknowledge that we all have. 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:44.480 Some of us are better at it than others. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:49.359 In fact, it is so prevalent that economists think 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:54.200 that this one skill makes up a quarter of our nation's economy. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:55.159 That's a lot of money. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:01:56.640 That's more than a million dollars. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:01.960 In fact, this is so important that great leaders, 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:06.200 businessmen, government officials, high school teachers, 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.759 moms and dads, kids on the playground, 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:14.860 all either do this or encourage us to grow in this one skill. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:20.560 Harvard Business Review wrote this about that one skill. 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:21.599 It said, 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:25.400 Ideas are the currency of the 21st century. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:29.900 The ability to persuade, and that is that one skill. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:35.900 To change hearts and minds is perhaps the single greatest skill of all time. 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:41.719 The author of that piece went on to say that when words and ideas are exchanged, 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:44.000 we have the power to change the world. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:50.719 Persuasion is then the most important skill that any of us can have, 00:02:51.140 --> 00:02:52.860 that any of us can possess. 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:54.500 Now, you might be thinking, 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:56.900 Well, I'm not sure I'm very persuasive. 00:02:57.080 --> 00:02:58.500 I'm not sure I even all do that. 00:02:58.540 --> 00:02:59.880 But think with me for a moment. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:03.460 We know that politicians do it. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:05.680 They try to convince us to vote for them. 00:03:06.140 --> 00:03:11.440 We know that salesmen try to speak to us in a way that make us buy whatever it is they're selling. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:13.700 But we all do it. 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:15.420 It's not just those people. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:21.699 In fact, if we think for a second about our own lives, we do it. 00:03:23.019 --> 00:03:25.979 You convince that guy to hire you in your job interview. 00:03:26.779 --> 00:03:31.579 You convince your son or daughter that, in fact, they should put on that jacket. 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:35.339 Or that they should obey. 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:39.119 Or that they should eat their vegetables. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:45.520 Or you convince that toddler this morning to get in that car seat. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.780 Maybe it wasn't persuasion. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:49.800 You think it's actually more coercion. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:54.439 But the reality is that we're trying to convince people to do something. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:57.920 We're trying to convince people to think something. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:00.719 And the difference between maybe persuading that toddler 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.960 or convincing someone to see something your way, 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:07.300 and maybe you think those are all the same thing. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:10.740 That manipulation, coercion, persuasion, it's all the same thing. 00:04:10.980 --> 00:04:15.980 But persuasion is trying to convince someone to do something or think something 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:17.819 for their own benefit. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.220 And it also benefits you on some level. 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:21.480 That's the difference. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.319 Kids, you do this too. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:25.060 Think about when you're on the playground 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:29.240 and you try to convince someone to trade that Pokemon card with you. 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.819 And you know the one that you have is actually terrible. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:39.980 Or you try to convince your brother or sister to stop coloring and ride bikes instead. 00:04:40.599 --> 00:04:42.939 We do this from the earliest age. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.980 And this morning, John is trying to do the same thing as a rider. 00:04:48.219 --> 00:04:52.079 But he's not trying to convince people of something new. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:55.959 He's not trying to persuade them with something they've never heard before. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:58.339 But in fact, he's reminding them, 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:00.300 I've already told you these things. 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:04.900 Just like eating your vegetables or putting on a jacket or getting in your car seat. 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:08.360 It's probably not the first time you said those things if you're a parent. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:09.720 John is saying, 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:11.340 I've told you this before, 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:15.639 but I'm reminding you again of how important it is. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:18.680 He writes this later on in the book. 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:19.100 He says, 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:23.400 I'm writing because I've written about these things before. 00:05:23.400 --> 00:05:26.680 To you who believe in the name of the Son of God, 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:30.500 in order that you might know that you have eternal life. 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:31.660 This isn't news to them. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.760 But in the opening lines of this letter, 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:36.740 he's pointing back to something. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.340 He's pointing back to this claim that we're going to examine this morning. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.340 The word of life is real. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:45.660 And we're going to do that in two parts. 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:47.560 We're going to first look at its substance. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:48.540 Or what is it? 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:50.620 We're going to define it and examine it. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:51.860 And then we're going to look at the effects. 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:52.660 The so what. 00:05:53.200 --> 00:05:54.700 So the word of life, 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:56.180 even that is ambiguous. 00:05:57.080 --> 00:05:58.260 We're going to see in a moment. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:01.480 The word of life and why it matters. 00:06:02.200 --> 00:06:02.680 First, 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:05.120 now, 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:06.840 when we're talking about persuasion, 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.699 the thing that I didn't mention in this conversation is, 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:13.439 no matter if in the 21st century or ancient history, 00:06:13.780 --> 00:06:17.160 everyone acknowledges that the seminal work, 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.420 the most important thing ever written on this, 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:21.199 is by a guy named Aristotle. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:21.759 Now, 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:24.420 I say that with some amount of fear and trepidation, 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:25.800 because Matthew, 00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:29.180 he's much more apt at the philosophy stuff. 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:31.860 And I barely can speak English sometimes. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:33.720 So I say that with hesitation. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:34.639 I'm glad he's not here. 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:35.819 I hope he's enjoying vacation. 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:36.580 Now, 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:37.280 Aristotle, 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:38.720 from what I've read, 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:39.520 okay, 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:42.280 he wrote this book called Rhetoric. 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:43.360 And I've read it. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:47.800 He talks about certain elements of communication, 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.740 certain elements that we can use to persuade others. 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:53.819 And one of them is establishing credibility. 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:54.840 You know, 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:56.360 why you should listen to me, 00:06:56.460 --> 00:06:58.759 why you should believe what I'm saying. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:00.779 And John does this same thing, 00:07:00.779 --> 00:07:03.399 but he does it in a very interesting way. 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:04.259 Let's look at it. 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:06.459 Read with me verse one. 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:08.839 That which was from the beginning, 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:10.079 which we have heard, 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:12.339 which we have seen with our eyes, 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:15.800 which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands, 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.699 concerning the word of life. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.740 He's establishing credibility by pointing back, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:23.639 saying, 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:25.620 this is not anything that's new. 00:07:25.919 --> 00:07:26.339 In fact, 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:27.000 it's old, 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:27.959 old history. 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.519 He says this topic, 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:33.279 this subject is important because of its age. 00:07:33.419 --> 00:07:34.659 And it's not recent, 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:36.719 but it's really, 00:07:37.159 --> 00:07:37.939 really old. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:39.539 And it's not just old. 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:41.719 It's there from before time, 00:07:41.979 --> 00:07:42.899 from the beginning. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.019 That's what he does to establish credibility. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:47.579 Now, 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:49.000 if you're thinking to yourself, 00:07:49.099 --> 00:07:49.259 wait, 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:50.939 this kind of sounds familiar. 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:53.100 Let me jog your memory. 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:54.959 Listen to this. 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:57.180 In the beginning was the word, 00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.899 and the word was with God, 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:00.660 and the word was God. 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:02.500 He was in the beginning, 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.220 was God. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.139 And all things were made through him. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.680 And without him was anything, 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:11.139 was not anything made that was made. 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.139 And in him was life, 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:15.240 and the life was the light of men. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:17.480 Or what about what we read earlier? 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.840 In the beginning, 00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:21.259 God created the heavens and the earth. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:22.900 It sounds really similar. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.520 And when John is writing this, 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.819 he's making a point to all of us, 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.819 especially the people that would receive this letter, 00:08:29.900 --> 00:08:30.560 or this sermon. 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:31.879 He's saying, 00:08:32.300 --> 00:08:33.860 what I'm about to say 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:37.899 relates to not just my gospel that I wrote to you, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:41.220 but it relates back all the way to the beginning, 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:42.060 to Genesis. 00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:45.119 And when we read this, 00:08:45.219 --> 00:08:47.119 it should get our juices flowing to say, 00:08:47.439 --> 00:08:49.319 oh yeah, I've heard this before. 00:08:49.439 --> 00:08:50.779 I know this story. 00:08:51.579 --> 00:08:54.500 And that is how credibility is established. 00:08:55.359 --> 00:08:56.779 He also does something else 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:58.899 that is very common in our modern day. 00:08:59.139 --> 00:09:00.559 He appeals to the senses. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.039 We like to think, though, 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:03.839 that we're much smarter 00:09:03.839 --> 00:09:05.759 than the first readers of this letter, 00:09:06.219 --> 00:09:07.899 and that we have to know, 00:09:08.059 --> 00:09:09.000 and see, and touch, 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:10.219 and understand everything. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:13.700 But John's readers were the same way. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.420 And he says this, 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:19.899 that you have seen it. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.300 You have touched it. 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:23.200 You have even tasted it. 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:25.879 You have felt with all of your senses 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.820 and seen all of these things. 00:09:28.160 --> 00:09:29.720 You've heard the words. 00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:32.519 And then he circles back again 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:34.259 in what's called a parenthesis, right? 00:09:34.920 --> 00:09:36.720 That he says the same thing again, 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:37.820 but in different ways. 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:40.580 He says, which we have seen with our eyes, 00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:41.760 which we have looked upon, 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:43.620 which we have touched with our hands. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:47.660 He's saying this thing over and over again, 00:09:47.760 --> 00:09:49.640 kind of like what pastors do. 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.080 We say the same thing over and over again, 00:09:52.260 --> 00:09:53.840 but maybe with different words. 00:09:54.160 --> 00:09:55.640 And why do we use different words? 00:09:55.660 --> 00:09:57.340 Because we don't want to be like robots 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:58.879 and just repeat everything. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:01.100 But we're circling around something 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.200 that's really important. 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.180 So we're saying the same thing 00:10:04.180 --> 00:10:06.440 over and over again. 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:09.140 And what is it that he's saying? 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.480 He's saying that this is really important. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:15.580 I want to remind you 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:17.080 that this is credible, 00:10:17.640 --> 00:10:19.120 not because it's old, 00:10:19.300 --> 00:10:20.560 but also that you, 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.460 that we have experienced it. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.640 This is something that's not new to you. 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:31.539 You are personally acquainted with the subject. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:33.860 You see, John's writing this letter 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:35.899 because he's concerned that Christians, 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:37.980 that he's told the gospel to, 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:40.199 that he's pastored and loved 00:10:40.199 --> 00:10:42.399 and watched them grow up, 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.259 watched them grow up in their faith 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.819 and children into adulthood. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.759 He's concerned that they're walking away 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.559 from the truth 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.279 and that they're walking away 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.220 from the message that he gave to them. 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:57.220 You see, some of the people 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.360 from this congregation 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.279 that John is writing to 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.279 had strayed away. 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:04.320 They thought there was new things 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.120 to find out. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.100 That in fact, 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.960 unless you went to this Bible study 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:10.879 or heard this certain speaker speak 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:13.160 or actually read this book, 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.680 that you really wouldn't know 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:15.960 what eternal life was. 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:18.180 And John's concerned about that 00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:19.879 and he points us back, 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.340 he points his readers back 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:24.240 to what they've heard before. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:24.920 And he says, 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.720 you don't need anything new. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.500 You don't need any new gadget 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:32.220 or gizmo or word. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:34.220 Go back to the beginning. 00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:35.879 Go back to what I've told you 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.740 because this is important. 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:41.600 But what's he talking about? 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.480 He's talking about the word of life. 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:44.580 That's the subject. 00:11:45.160 --> 00:11:47.460 That's the that in the beginning. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.900 The word of life 00:11:49.900 --> 00:11:52.120 could be the message of Jesus. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.840 If you start reading 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.700 through this section 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:55.840 up until the point 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:56.860 where he talks about 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:59.240 that it's touched by hands. 00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:01.780 So it's the message of Jesus 00:12:01.780 --> 00:12:03.519 but also the person of Jesus 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.379 because in the person of Jesus, 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:08.440 he accomplishes what he preaches. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:10.379 The sacrifice, 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:13.500 the once for all sacrifice for sin 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.360 is Jesus himself 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.820 but he communicates that message 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:19.460 by his own lips. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:21.300 So it's the message of Jesus 00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:23.740 but also the person of Jesus. 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.440 And John says 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.920 that Jesus embodies this message 00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.379 and you have seen it, 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:31.480 you have touched it, 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:33.940 you've even known it. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.759 You've known the person of Jesus. 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:38.060 And Jesus is the word 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:40.360 and the word is life. 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.860 He reminds us of that 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.000 in the gospel of John. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.379 He tracks that all the way through for us. 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:49.419 He's pointing in these very first verses 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.519 back to Jesus 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.080 as the answer for 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.879 not these newfound issues 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:58.379 that can be answered by new ideas, 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:01.659 new problems that can't be answered 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.679 by an old message. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.580 No, he says, 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:04.939 go back to Jesus. 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:07.559 And then he continues that 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.899 again in verse two. 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.620 He says, 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.019 the life was made manifest 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.220 and we have seen it 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.779 and testify to it 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:15.500 and proclaim to you 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.980 the eternal life 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:19.019 which was with the Father 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:21.039 and was made manifest to us. 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.659 He's circling the drain. 00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:23.939 First he starts wider 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:25.480 and then he gets closer. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:27.720 He says the same thing again 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.840 but in a different way. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.759 At the same time, 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.699 the drain is still in the middle. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.639 He's going around and around 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.740 saying the same thing, 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.860 restating it. 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:39.960 Again, this is not new. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.720 This is an old message 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:44.419 both in age and familiarity. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:47.019 He's not telling them anything new. 00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:49.379 He's not trying to persuade them 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:51.639 like at the end of the Gospel of John 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.100 where he's telling people 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:55.180 who've never heard the good news of Jesus. 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.539 He's reminding them again 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:59.039 that this is important. 00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:01.100 He's reminding us 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.920 of the centrality 00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:05.399 of the person and message of Jesus 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.639 for all of life. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.259 He's reminding us 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:11.079 again and again 00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:13.439 that eternal life 00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.899 is found in Christ. 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.159 Now John, 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:18.480 he's terrible at grammar 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:20.519 which is kind of funny 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.399 because if you start grading this thing, 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:24.019 that first couple verses 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.519 is all one sentence 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.500 and you're thinking, 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.899 John, you're saying the same thing 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.959 over and over again 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:30.620 and you don't even give us a break 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.720 like we can't even breathe 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.460 with the period. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.080 But John 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.580 is actually 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:37.240 a really good writer 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.560 and a really good speaker. 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.700 When you think 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.680 of good speakers 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:43.080 in the modern day, 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.740 you might think 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.399 of something called 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.100 a TED Talk. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.200 It's where an expert, 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:48.139 air quote, 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.279 gets up 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.660 and convinces you 00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:51.960 that whatever they say 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:52.620 is important 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.680 and they're in authority 00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:54.160 on that. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:54.720 And I say, 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.860 most of the time it is 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:57.040 but sometimes it's a kid. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.040 And sometimes 00:14:58.040 --> 00:14:59.200 they're experts on things 00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.600 where you're like, 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.019 hey, I don't really think 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:02.120 you know what you're talking about. 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:03.560 Plus, where's your mom? 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.259 But, 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:06.540 you know, 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.960 those influential videos 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.540 where we hear about experts 00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:11.659 but John does the same thing 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.019 that a lot of these TED Talks do. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.960 He repeats things 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.580 over and over 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.940 to reinforce a point. 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.620 He builds credibility 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.920 just like Aristotle 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:19.860 told him to do 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.860 or Aristotle explains later 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.980 that credibility 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.240 is based on age 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.139 and then experience. 00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:27.860 But TED Talks do something 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.980 that John does here. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:31.139 where he tells a story 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.399 invites us in. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.440 And if you look 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.540 at the most popular TED Talks 00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:36.480 that are on the internet, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.920 all of them 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:39.580 have an element of story 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:41.100 where they invite us in 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.659 and we get captured 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:45.259 in what's going on. 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.620 If you think about a good book, 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.580 reading a good book 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.540 does the same thing. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.800 We kind of lose 00:15:49.800 --> 00:15:51.019 where we're at in life 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.180 and we get immersed 00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:52.960 in the story. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.100 And then you add 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.960 on top of that, 00:15:55.040 --> 00:15:55.740 you add emotion. 00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:57.340 Now you might be thinking, 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.840 hey, I'm a math science guy. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.980 I don't really do feelings. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.879 Even the best of us 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.420 have feelings 00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:04.160 and emotions. 00:16:04.540 --> 00:16:05.460 And when a story 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.360 compels us 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.860 and we get captured in it 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.560 and then our emotions 00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.700 are involved, 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.560 we're all in. 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.420 The same is true with John. 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.899 The same is true 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.080 with a TED Talk. 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.480 Now TED Talks 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.200 all end 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.340 in this certain way. 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.120 They say, 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.420 and you might even 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:23.220 use this phrase, 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.400 thank you for coming 00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:25.300 to my TED Talk. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.439 Now John, 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.500 if you look at 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.620 how he's written this, 00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:31.879 he doesn't have 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.019 the focus on himself 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.039 like many of these 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:34.819 so-called experts. 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:35.199 Like, 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.699 if I want to tell you 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.500 about Pokemon cards 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.539 or I want to tell you 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:41.000 about college football, 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:41.979 I'm going to list 00:16:41.979 --> 00:16:42.659 my credentials 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.120 and then you're going 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.839 to believe me 00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:45.979 based on my credentials. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.459 Now John, 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.439 he does something 00:16:48.439 --> 00:16:49.319 very different. 00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:51.120 And just like 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.980 a TED Talk, 00:16:54.520 --> 00:16:55.020 he doesn't, 00:16:55.260 --> 00:16:55.960 he actually doesn't 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.420 do anything 00:16:56.420 --> 00:16:57.200 like a TED Talk. 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:57.920 He says, 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.340 hey, 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.180 listen, 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.600 my TED Talk 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.860 is not about me. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.320 It's about Jesus. 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.259 And he structures 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:06.000 how he opens this letter 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.900 in the same way. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.900 He doesn't say, 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.799 I'm John, 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.080 I knew Jesus, 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.180 or I'm John, 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.920 I'm really important, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.120 I know what I'm talking about. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.759 He says, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.559 the subject 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.360 is way more important 00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:17.480 than me, 00:17:17.820 --> 00:17:18.740 than what I'm delivering 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.299 to you. 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.299 That Jesus is more important 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.619 than anything else. 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.439 And he structures 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:24.539 his letter 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.299 in the same way. 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.399 He draws us 00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.439 into the story. 00:17:27.899 --> 00:17:29.059 He builds credibility. 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.960 But it's all pointing 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:31.599 to Jesus, 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.200 not to John. 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:37.279 How John structures 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.919 this letter, 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:39.779 how he repeats things, 00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:41.159 how he builds credibility, 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:43.139 he's all explaining 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.679 what the word of life is. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.319 He's reassuring 00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:48.200 his readers. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:48.779 Remember, 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.460 that's the point 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.079 of this letter, 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.539 to reassure people 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:53.420 that the central point 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.039 of life 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.579 is Christ 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.599 and him crucified. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.440 He's reassuring 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.200 these people 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.960 of the power 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.680 of the gospel 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.480 that rests 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.399 not in John 00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:05.700 or his professionalism 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.519 or his credibility 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.440 and not how he talks, 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.859 but in what Jesus 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.299 has done 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.839 and who Jesus is. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.059 That's the point 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.720 of why John's writing. 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:16.819 Now, 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.720 why does that matter? 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.460 It matters for Christians. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.179 It matters for Christians 00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:22.339 then and now 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.740 because if we get 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.799 in a tough spot, 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:27.419 if we're doubting 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.759 our faith, 00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:29.939 oftentimes, 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.240 we look to ourselves 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.639 and think, 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:31.899 well, 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:32.819 you know, 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:34.339 I know myself 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.000 the best 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.839 or my spouse 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.740 says this 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.899 or my friends 00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.579 say that. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.879 John says no. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.920 look to Jesus. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.140 That's the thing 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:45.840 that is certain 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:47.580 because in our own lives, 00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:49.460 if we look to ourselves 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.460 as to other people, 00:18:50.780 --> 00:18:51.740 the reality is 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.380 that they're all 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.220 marked by sin. 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.980 We all struggle 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.560 with sin. 00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:56.460 We all struggle 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.200 with doubts. 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.420 So why would we 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.420 look to ourselves 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.280 for any amount 00:19:00.280 --> 00:19:01.040 of surety 00:19:01.040 --> 00:19:01.800 or certainty? 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.080 No, 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.580 instead, 00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:04.680 look to Christ. 00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:06.000 And John knows this 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.559 and he reminds 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.759 his readers of this. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.680 Even how he sets 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.660 everything up. 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.279 He says, 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.299 don't look to yourself. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:15.000 Look to the word of life 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.359 because in him 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.720 is found eternal life. 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.579 Look to Christ 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.680 and what he's accomplished 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.660 on the cross. 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.400 Don't look to yourselves. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.339 Don't even look 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:28.940 to others around you. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.619 The certainty 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.380 is found 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.180 in the message 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.880 of the gospel. 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.119 Not into these people 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.779 who are trying 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.979 to persuade you 00:19:36.979 --> 00:19:38.379 of new ideas 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.919 or new things. 00:19:40.699 --> 00:19:41.739 The message 00:19:41.739 --> 00:19:42.639 is where certainty 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.279 is found 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.619 because of 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:46.059 what Jesus 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.799 has done. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.059 So when we're 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.659 discouraged 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:49.119 and we think 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.939 life isn't even 00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:50.779 going right, 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:51.919 that 00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:54.479 we're struggling 00:19:54.479 --> 00:19:56.419 when we think 00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.419 I surely cannot 00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:58.219 be a Christian. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:00.339 Look to Christ 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.539 because that 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.459 is more certain 00:20:02.459 --> 00:20:03.399 than ourselves. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.739 when we hear 00:20:06.739 --> 00:20:08.019 questions in our day, 00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:08.899 when we say, 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.239 did Jesus really 00:20:10.239 --> 00:20:10.939 say that? 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.179 Or how could you 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:12.919 even believe 00:20:12.919 --> 00:20:14.479 in this fairy tale, 00:20:14.979 --> 00:20:15.779 this fantasy? 00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:18.199 Look to Christ 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:18.979 because that 00:20:18.979 --> 00:20:19.539 is certain. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.899 When there's war 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.759 and there's rumors 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.459 of war 00:20:22.459 --> 00:20:23.759 and our society 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.979 seems to be 00:20:24.979 --> 00:20:25.779 going crazy, 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.459 look to Christ. 00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:29.339 Look to Christ. 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:29.979 That's where 00:20:29.979 --> 00:20:30.739 John is pointing 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.259 to us 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.140 because our 00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:32.880 assurance 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.359 comes in 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.279 what he's done 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.680 on the cross 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.400 on our behalf. 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.480 Our forgiveness 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.240 of sin 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.900 is because 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:40.559 of Christ. 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.019 Our certainty 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.799 of hope 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.799 is because 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.460 of Christ, 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.680 not because 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.539 of any of us. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.180 Now, 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.420 that's the substance 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.160 of this word 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.640 of life. 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.259 What about 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.019 its effects? 00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.140 How does it 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.259 affect our lives? 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.720 If that's true 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.440 and that's true 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.940 of us, 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.660 how do we 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.339 live that out? 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.439 What do we do 00:21:00.439 --> 00:21:00.799 now? 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.439 Look with me 00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.439 at verses 00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:06.220 3 and following. 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.759 That which 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.639 we have seen 00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.299 and heard 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.939 we proclaim 00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:14.199 also to you 00:21:14.199 --> 00:21:15.240 so that you 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.039 too may have 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:17.059 fellowship with us 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.919 and indeed 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.740 our fellowship 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.439 is with the 00:21:19.439 --> 00:21:20.279 Father and His 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.679 Son, 00:21:20.959 --> 00:21:22.079 Jesus Christ. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.740 He begins 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.199 with this 00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:25.759 repetition 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.480 again. 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.279 He's saying 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.099 the same thing 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.539 but he's 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.319 amplifying it. 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.980 He's making 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.419 it more 00:21:30.419 --> 00:21:30.980 intense. 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.959 He's saying 00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:32.480 what we heard 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.139 in verse 1 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:33.959 and verse 2 00:21:33.959 --> 00:21:36.079 but we look 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.779 at the effects 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.159 of it. 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.519 It changes 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.399 individuals 00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:40.339 and it binds 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.259 us together 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.099 but why? 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.500 Because the 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.259 word that was 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.859 proclaimed, 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.819 the good news 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.099 that was 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.740 proclaimed to 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.599 each of us, 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.619 to all these 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.099 readers, 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.639 changes us 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.879 and makes us 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.639 in fellowship 00:21:53.639 --> 00:21:54.980 together because 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.799 we have fellowship 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.779 with the Father 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.059 through the Son, 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.940 Jesus Christ. 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.419 That we have 00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.000 fellowship with 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.500 the Father 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.659 and because we 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.200 have fellowship 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.859 with the Father 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.879 and you have 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.399 fellowship with 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:05.839 the Father 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.740 and He has 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.259 fellowship with 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.639 the Father 00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.599 and she does 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.399 then we have 00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.279 fellowship together. 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:13.179 But that's born 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:13.679 out of the 00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.679 proclamation of 00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.079 the Word 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.440 that the gospel 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.119 was proclaimed 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:17.779 to you 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.480 and you've 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.319 changed, 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.659 you've become 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.659 a saint, 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.460 changed from 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.879 sinner and because 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.879 of that now 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.279 you have 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.679 fellowship. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.960 fellowship is 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.340 kind of a 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:27.960 funny word. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.560 A guy I knew 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.700 once always 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.180 talked about 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.240 fellowship in 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.000 terms of kids 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.340 and he would 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.700 talk about kids 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.560 going down to 00:22:35.560 --> 00:22:36.140 the basement 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.660 and having 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:38.080 coke and I 00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:38.740 think hot dogs, 00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:39.320 I can't remember 00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:39.799 the food. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.259 But is that 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.660 fellowship? 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.700 Or is fellowship 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.460 something different? 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.539 Is fellowship 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.240 what we do 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.000 after church? 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.500 Maybe. 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.340 Or is fellowship 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:51.700 as John uses it, 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.700 it's a common 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.299 bond. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.200 The New Testament 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.799 uses it as 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.740 fellowship, 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.340 as having 00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:58.180 something in 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.680 common, 00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.860 doing something 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.279 together. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.100 In the gospels 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.860 it talks about 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.759 the disciples 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.779 having fellowship 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.360 in fishing. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.059 Is that fellowship? 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.980 Is that what he 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.420 means here? 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.580 John will go on 00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:10.220 later in some 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.720 of his other 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.440 letters to talk 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.240 about fellowship 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.940 with evil, 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.920 that when we 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.500 don't follow 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.259 Christ we're 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.200 actually in 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.940 fellowship with 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.279 evil. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.440 Is that fellowship? 00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:20.279 Fellowship is 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.819 just having 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.480 something in 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.100 common and 00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:22.759 uniting us 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.120 together. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.959 So if you're 00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:24.379 a Clemson 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:25.139 football fan, 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:25.739 we have 00:23:25.739 --> 00:23:26.059 fellowship 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.479 together. 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.739 If you really 00:23:27.739 --> 00:23:28.419 like coffee, 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.439 you might have 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.479 fellowship with 00:23:30.479 --> 00:23:30.839 Matthew. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.679 If you like 00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:33.419 the Rockies, 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:33.899 you probably 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.539 have fellowship 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.859 with my son. 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:38.079 If you love 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.919 Pokemon, 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.199 you might have 00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:40.839 fellowship with 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.479 another kid. 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.639 It can go on 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:42.979 and on. 00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:43.839 Fellowship is 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.539 having something 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.599 that you both 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.079 like that unites 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.659 you together. 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.659 So what is 00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.339 John talking 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:49.859 about here? 00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:50.799 He's talking 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.679 about fellowship 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.900 that is found 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.680 in the gospel. 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.120 That's most 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.620 of the time 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.240 when we use 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:56.759 that term. 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.460 We use that 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.080 as shorthand. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.160 Fellowship that 00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.860 we have in 00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.380 the gospel. 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:03.000 But participation 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.500 in fellowship 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.560 is also 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.320 participation 00:24:06.320 --> 00:24:07.299 in a mission. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.220 It's just, 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.340 it's not 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:10.060 stagnant. 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.700 And John 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.360 reminds us 00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:11.940 of that here. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.940 He says 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.440 that we 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.900 have seen 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.080 it, 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.120 testified to 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.259 it, 00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:16.860 and proclaimed 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.259 to you 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.120 eternal life, 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:18.900 which was with 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.340 the Father. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:19.820 That's in 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.279 verse 2. 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.220 He's building 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.899 this case 00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.359 that we 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.660 are participatory. 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.480 That which 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.299 we have seen 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.119 and heard 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.700 we proclaim 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.500 to you also 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.539 so that you 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.279 too may have 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:29.960 fellowship with 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.319 us. 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.559 Proclaiming 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.000 and then 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.480 fellowship. 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.980 Sinner 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.759 to saint 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.279 then fellowship. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.319 That's how we 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.839 have fellowship 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.660 with the Father 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.539 because we 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.139 have put 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.879 our faith 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.519 in Christ. 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.819 If you 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.220 don't have 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.559 fellowship 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.259 with the Father, 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.079 you haven't 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.740 put your faith 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.440 in Christ. 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.680 I encourage 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.039 you, 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.740 based on 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.039 the words 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.500 of John, 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.720 to love 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.600 Jesus 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.600 because of 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:53.900 what he 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.340 has done 00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:54.680 on your 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.140 behalf. 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:55.920 Is your 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.299 heart 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.960 steward 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.060 towards 00:24:58.060 --> 00:24:58.600 Christ 00:24:58.600 --> 00:24:59.180 because of 00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.460 what he 00:24:59.460 --> 00:24:59.900 has done? 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.380 Jesus, 00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:04.000 both the 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.740 person and 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.180 the message 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.180 is that 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.840 Jesus has 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:07.480 come and 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.200 died and 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:08.740 paid for 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:10.700 sin as a 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.580 ransom for 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.259 those that 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.700 are sinners. 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.279 And that's 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.600 us. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.560 And if we 00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:14.900 put our 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.400 faith in 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:15.700 Christ, 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.039 we have 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.480 fellowship 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.019 with God 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.559 the Father 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.620 because of 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.059 the Son. 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.180 That's the 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.740 message of 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.180 the gospel. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.180 That's what 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.160 John's inviting 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.680 us to 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.559 participate in 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.140 as we 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.980 tell others 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.740 about what 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.200 has happened 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.860 to us. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.559 That is how 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:29.839 we have 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.259 fellowship. 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.339 When I was 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.860 a kid, 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.279 you might 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.620 have a 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.279 granddad like 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.779 this or 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.299 a grandfather 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.380 that's like 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:37.740 this. 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.039 I don't 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.140 think I've 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.640 had some 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.279 near-death 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.059 experiences in 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.559 my life, 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.720 but most 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.179 of them 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.940 have been 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.299 at his 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.619 hands, 00:25:46.679 --> 00:25:46.960 which is 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.359 saying a 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:47.579 lot, 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.200 right? 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.359 He's a 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:49.980 great man, 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.339 he's with 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.700 the Lord 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.079 now, 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:52.079 but he 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.460 had some 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.519 not-so-great 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.240 ideas most 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.619 of the time. 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.159 He's a smart 00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:55.700 guy, too. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.599 And one of 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.259 my favorite 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.319 slash scariest 00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.879 was when 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:01.119 we went to 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.419 our lake 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:02.859 place. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.619 We had a 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.059 little house 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.559 on the lake 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.539 and there 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:05.779 was a 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.119 hurricane 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:06.639 coming, 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.240 so for 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:07.679 those that 00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:07.859 aren't 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.279 acquainted, 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:08.859 think 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.379 tornado, 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:09.940 lots of 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.500 big winds, 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.039 lots of 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.519 water, 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.119 rain, 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:12.919 you know, 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.460 you stay 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:13.920 at home, 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:14.420 you don't 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.240 drive an 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.920 hour away 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.920 to go out 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.279 to this 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.620 little, 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.300 not shack, 00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.100 but cottage, 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.680 lake house, 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.320 cabin deal, 00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:22.360 and you 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.860 definitely 00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.519 don't want 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.720 to be 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.200 outside. 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:25.080 So he 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:25.720 got the 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.279 idea that 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.600 he needed 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.039 to go up 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.420 there and 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.740 make sure 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.100 everything 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.400 was, 00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:28.960 you know, 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.759 put together 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.539 and was 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.060 in order, 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:32.680 and so he 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:32.960 said, 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.480 hey, 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.620 you're above 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.100 the age of 00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:35.400 five, 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:35.640 you're going 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:35.940 to come 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.380 with me. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.380 So we 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:38.740 went up 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.140 there to 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.580 make sure 00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:39.940 that our 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.400 boat hadn't 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.759 blown across 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.180 the lake, 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.519 that the 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.039 house hadn't 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.799 imploded because 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.240 we built 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.539 it, 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.599 and his 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.099 idea, 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.720 he knew it 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.299 was dangerous, 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.960 and so he 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.299 said, 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.160 boy, 00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:53.879 he sometimes 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.480 called me 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.839 boy when 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.200 he's very 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:55.720 serious, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.500 or before 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.140 a near-death 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.660 experience, 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.720 I'm going to 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:01.039 tie you to 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.759 this tree. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.779 Now the 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.279 reason he 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.680 was going to 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.220 tie me to 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.779 the tree is 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.319 one so I 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.640 didn't blow 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:05.960 away, 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.740 and the 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.160 other was 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.440 so I 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.140 didn't drown, 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.099 okay, 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.000 because the 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.460 water had 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.240 risen above 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.819 our dock, 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.200 it was a 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.880 fixed dock, 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.339 and so when 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:14.900 we made our 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.500 way down, 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.120 after I was 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.720 tied to this 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:16.940 tree, 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.180 and the 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.559 tree is still 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.079 there today, 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:20.420 it was about 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.140 three feet of 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.640 water above 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.140 the dock, 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.819 so when you're 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.700 about nine, 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.259 that's pretty 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.660 high, 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.920 and it's 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.279 windy, 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.220 you should be 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.759 inside, 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.279 you shouldn't 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.960 be outside 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.539 when there's a 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:29.839 hurricane, 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.819 and he was 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:33.019 concerned that 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.980 I would die. 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.380 More importantly, 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.220 he wasn't 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.859 concerned that I 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.279 would die, 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.980 but then he 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.420 wouldn't be able 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.779 to get me 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.200 back, 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.579 okay, 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.440 at least that's 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.700 what my 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.059 grandmother 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.660 accused him 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:41.880 of, 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.259 that I 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.680 would be 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.420 carried away 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:44.960 in the water 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.580 and the wind, 00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:46.140 okay, 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.180 and as we 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.500 made our 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.180 way down, 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.480 it was pretty 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.900 scary, 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.840 and I 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:53.019 remember seeing 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.840 him slip and 00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.360 go under the 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:54.860 water and 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.160 thinking, 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.259 I'm tied to 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.640 this tree, 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.320 I can't help 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:57.539 you, 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.840 but no matter 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.900 what happened, 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.140 the wind or 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.779 the waves, 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.740 even if I 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.200 died, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.200 I am still 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.000 anchored to 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.660 this tree, 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.259 I am bound 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.019 to this tree 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.900 by this rope, 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.320 and that 00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.900 rope is 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.320 not going 00:28:13.320 --> 00:28:13.660 to let 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.980 me go 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.380 under the 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.380 water and 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:17.160 float away, 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.320 it might go 00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:18.660 under the 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.180 water for a 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.540 time, 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.460 I might be 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.120 blown over, 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.400 but I'm not 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.759 going to be 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.440 blown across 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.900 the lake, 00:28:24.280 --> 00:28:25.259 I might fall, 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.120 no matter what 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.600 happens, 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.480 I have this 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:28.880 anchor, 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:30.120 I am bound 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.080 to this tree, 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.700 I am bound 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.519 by this rope, 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.800 John is 00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.880 reminding us 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:36.980 that Christians, 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.519 that we are 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.779 bound together 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:40.139 with God, 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.879 not because of 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.740 our ability to 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.339 hold on to 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.879 that rope, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.139 but because we 00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:45.960 are tied to 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.299 him, 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.160 we are tied 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.960 to him because 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.759 of what Christ 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.440 has done on 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.940 our behalf, 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.059 because of our 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.819 faith in 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.359 Christ, 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.740 even when it's 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.119 weak, 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.660 is secured not 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.259 because of 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.779 ourselves, 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.759 but because of 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.339 what Christ 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.220 has done, 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:03.380 he moves on 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:03.940 from this and 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.299 he says, 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.319 I'm writing 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.259 these things 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.059 so that our 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.279 joy might be 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.880 complete. 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.600 Union with 00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:12.079 God, 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.799 union with 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.380 Christ, 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.579 is the source 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.279 of our joy, 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.200 and if we read 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.720 this at its 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.059 face, 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.880 we think our 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:18.640 joy is somehow 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.240 lacking. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.519 John's not 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.120 saying that, 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.700 he's saying 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.420 because I've 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.240 cared for you, 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.920 because I've 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.579 told you the 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:24.980 gospel, 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.620 because I've 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.380 pastored you, 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.180 because I've 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:27.940 shepherded you 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.880 through all 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.640 those storms 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.320 of life, 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.460 I feel a 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.440 sense of joy 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:33.960 in knowing 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.299 that you're 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.279 walking in 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.799 the truth. 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.120 He'll say 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.539 that later. 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.460 That I love 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:38.820 you, 00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.880 and that when 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:41.059 I hear of 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.600 the ministry 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.320 of Gideons, 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.519 or I hear of 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.080 the ministry 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:44.640 that's going 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.559 on in other 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.120 parts of the 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.340 world, 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.320 that we are 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.220 together in 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.620 this, 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.480 in this 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:49.940 mission, 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:50.779 the proclamation 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.680 of the word, 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.360 and I rejoice 00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:54.620 to know that 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:55.220 the word is 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.960 going forth. 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.019 That's what 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.700 he's saying. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.820 That we're 00:29:58.820 --> 00:29:59.519 doing these 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.640 things for 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.180 joy. 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.920 So do we 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:05.720 rejoice when 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:05.980 we have 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.620 fellowship with 00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:07.080 one another? 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:07.940 Do we 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:09.360 rejoice when 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.080 we go out 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.620 after the 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.380 service and 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.059 eat those 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.980 wonderful treats 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.920 and drink 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.340 coffee? 00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.559 Is that 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.420 fellowship that 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.240 we can rejoice 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.500 in? 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.140 It is because 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.840 it's not really 00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.200 about the 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.180 coffee or the 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.539 treats. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:22.880 It's about 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.759 the conversations 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.539 that we have 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:24.900 with one 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.200 another, 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.440 stirring our 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.940 hearts, 00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.799 prompting 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.240 each other 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.680 on, 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.159 to know 00:30:30.159 --> 00:30:30.460 that, 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.240 yes, 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.779 I might 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.419 be struggling, 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.180 but I am 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.319 bound with 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.839 Christ. 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.899 That even 00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.599 when I don't 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.419 feel like I 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:38.799 have the 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.440 strength to 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.079 hold on, 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.960 that Christ 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.740 holds me 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.279 fast. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.720 That's what 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.319 John is 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.119 reminding us. 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.039 And the joy 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:48.339 to know as 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.839 we walk 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.419 through life 00:30:49.419 --> 00:30:49.899 together, 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.299 as Christians, 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.619 as followers 00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:54.479 of God, 00:30:54.719 --> 00:30:56.099 that we are 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:57.119 united together 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.799 in all of 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:57.979 that. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.819 And that 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.879 brings joy 00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:01.959 because we 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:02.759 are participating 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.019 together in a 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.359 mission, 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.979 in seeing 00:31:05.979 --> 00:31:06.539 sinners 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.259 transformed 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.239 into saints, 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.019 in seeing 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.879 people raised 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.500 from death 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.319 unto life. 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.519 That gives 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.439 us joy. 00:31:14.199 --> 00:31:14.819 That's something 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.359 that we can 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.259 rejoice in 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.939 and hope in. 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:20.039 that's 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.500 fellowship. 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.759 The effects 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.120 of the 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:24.620 message of 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.279 Jesus are 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.980 that we 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.680 fundamentally 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.460 transformed 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.340 our priorities, 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.720 that we 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.460 see things 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.000 differently. 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.779 We see 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.559 the effects 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.240 of his 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.180 person and 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.980 his message 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:38.180 because of 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:38.920 the actual 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.259 message, 00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:39.640 because it 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:39.900 is that 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.299 good, 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.120 because it 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:41.500 is that 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.120 powerful. 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.620 And when 00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:44.759 we encounter 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.460 the storms 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.059 of life, 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.200 we are 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.759 assured, 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.680 not because 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.039 of my 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.779 own strength 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.240 to hold 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:50.600 on, 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:51.880 but because 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.360 of who 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:53.220 Jesus is. 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.820 Let's rest 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.279 in that 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.700 assurance. 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.080 Let's rest 00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:57.480 in knowing 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.220 that Christ 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:58.660 and him 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.220 crucified 00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:00.420 is the 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:00.980 only thing 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.720 that matters. 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.779 Let's 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.000 pray. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.820 Lord, 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.100 we are 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:09.880 mindful this 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:11.299 morning of 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.900 the change 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.240 that you 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.860 have wrought 00:32:12.860 --> 00:32:13.460 in those 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.920 that follow 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.440 Christ. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.100 We pray 00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.580 that you 00:32:15.580 --> 00:32:16.320 might work 00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.720 in our 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.420 hearts to 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.180 hold us 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.680 fast because 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.200 of what 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:20.580 you have 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.000 done 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.759 through 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.259 Christ. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.860 May we 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:23.720 know that, 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.560 may we 00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.320 love it, 00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:26.300 and may we 00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:27.220 rejoice in 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:27.680 the hope 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.440 that's found 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.460 in knowing 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:29.960 Jesus. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.720 Amen.