WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:03.459 Thanks, Rebecca. Why don't we pray together before we start? 00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:10.820 Heavenly Father, would you prepare our hearts to hear your word? 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:16.339 Would you speak through me this evening? Amen. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:20.780 Marina Chapman was only four years old. 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:25.460 She remembers very little from that day when she was kidnapped, 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:28.940 taken from her village in rural Colombia. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.079 The story that I'm about to tell you is unbelievable, to be honest. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:39.820 It's an unbelievable story. And as far as I'm aware, it is a true story. 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:45.179 Marina was four years old. She was playing in her back garden. 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:48.820 And she remembers a strong, sweaty arm. 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:56.420 She remembers a bag going over her head and the smell of a chemical making her sleep. 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:05.340 She remembers then slipping in and out of consciousness as she was dragged for hours and hours through the jungle, 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:08.219 branches whipping against her face. 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:14.299 And after hours of being dragged and abused by her captors, 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:19.040 well, they simply left her there in the middle of the jungle. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:26.320 A four-year-old. She would have been barely this tall, terrified, crying. 00:01:26.320 --> 00:01:34.060 A little girl, she climbs under a bush and spends the longest night of her life. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:41.719 Can you imagine the sounds of the jungle, the snake slithering past her? 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.219 She could not move. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.980 And I know this sounds impossible, but bear with me. 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:54.579 A troop of monkeys in the trees, they notice Marina on about the third day. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.759 And she is terrified that they're going to attack her. 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:00.120 And in a way, they sort of do. They run at her. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:02.379 They pull her hair. They're curious. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.299 Eventually, they get bored of her and leave. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:10.000 But not knowing what to do, she follows them. 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:13.800 And eventually, they begin to start throwing food down to her. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:16.000 Bananas, nuts, that sort of thing. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:19.000 And she watched the monkeys and she stayed with them. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.180 And the days turned into weeks. 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:24.439 And the weeks turned into months. 00:02:24.519 --> 00:02:28.719 Can you imagine the months literally turned into years? 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:31.419 She was accepted by this troop of monkeys. 00:02:31.419 --> 00:02:36.519 And she literally began to live a life of monkey see, monkey do. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.379 It's an almost unbelievable story. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:43.859 She says she copied them as they catch rain in leaves and drink it. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:45.359 This is how she survives. 00:02:45.459 --> 00:02:46.179 And it's amazing. 00:02:46.239 --> 00:02:49.259 It's amazing that she lives this long. 00:02:50.179 --> 00:02:52.000 As I said, the months turned into years. 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:57.699 Ten years she lived this life of monkey see, monkey do. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:08.759 And sometimes, I think it feels as though we're bumbling along in this life with a similar sort of direction. 00:03:10.619 --> 00:03:14.079 Surviving by monkey see, monkey do. 00:03:15.299 --> 00:03:23.079 And our passage today urges us that we do not need to live like that in order to survive. 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:27.700 Our passage comes from the book of 1 John. 00:03:27.820 --> 00:03:32.160 And in this book, John has a very particular purpose. 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:36.020 He states that purpose in chapter 5, verse 13. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:37.000 Let me read that for you. 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:37.920 It says this. 00:03:39.160 --> 00:03:42.960 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, 00:03:43.420 --> 00:03:46.980 that you may know that you have eternal life. 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:53.799 And so this book is first and foremost a book of assurance to the Christian, 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:59.759 that we might know who we are and what he has won for us. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:08.780 And in our passage today, John is writing to us to show us who is a Christian and who is not. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:12.739 In chapter 3, verse 10, at the end of the passage that's just been read for us, 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:13.439 have a look at it. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.300 Verse 10, he says this. 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:20.560 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. 00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:24.339 Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:28.439 nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:36.040 Christians are, John says, very different to the world around them. 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:40.300 They no longer play monkey see, monkey do. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:47.220 They have been born again for a different purpose because of Jesus's appearing. 00:04:48.520 --> 00:04:52.060 And that's the question that we're asking in this series at the moment. 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:53.780 Why did Jesus appear? 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:54.660 Why did he come? 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:57.960 What is Christmas all about? 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:01.600 And in verses 1 to 3 of our passage, 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:07.080 we'll get a real quick recap of the wonderful truth that Dave told us about last week, 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:10.000 that we are children of God. 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:14.359 But more than that is what we get in verses 4 to 10, 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:18.379 that Jesus appeared to destroy the darkness. 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:23.659 We are, I'm sure, familiar with the idea of Jesus being the light of the world. 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:27.319 That classic Christmas reading from Isaiah chapter 9, 00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:29.259 we saw it at the end of that video. 00:05:29.259 --> 00:05:30.599 Let me remind you of it. 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:35.240 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:39.319 On those living in the land of deep darkness, 00:05:39.599 --> 00:05:42.319 a light has dawned. 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:46.259 Or another classic from the first chapter of John's gospel, 00:05:46.459 --> 00:05:48.199 in him was life. 00:05:48.719 --> 00:05:51.959 And that life was the light of all mankind. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:55.000 The light shines in the darkness, 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:57.740 and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:00.780 We are familiar, aren't we? 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:03.160 I think particularly at this time of year, 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:06.100 with the idea of Jesus being light. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.040 And it sounds lovely, doesn't it? 00:06:10.780 --> 00:06:12.220 But what on earth does it mean? 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:15.360 What exactly is this image getting at? 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:20.639 Two reasons for Jesus' appearing from today's passage. 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:23.620 Two things for us to see about the light. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.579 Firstly, there is freedom in the light. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:32.280 Because in verse 5, he has appeared to take away our sins. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:36.800 And secondly, there is purpose in the light. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:42.579 Because in verse 8, he has appeared to destroy the works of the devil. 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:45.139 We'll get there in a second. 00:06:45.259 --> 00:06:48.780 But first, I just want to remind you of this wonderful truth. 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:54.159 Last week, we saw that Jesus appeared to make us children of God, 00:06:54.219 --> 00:06:56.819 to adopt us into his family. 00:06:57.859 --> 00:07:00.739 J.I. Packer, the late great theologian, said this, 00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:05.500 if you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:13.459 Find out how much he makes of the idea of being God's child and having God as his father. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:19.459 And the start of our passage this week reminds us of exactly that, doesn't it? 00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:25.060 These verses are a beautiful reminder of the identity given to the Christian. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:27.319 Have a look at verse 1 with me. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:35.540 See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:40.939 This is the mind-blowing truth, right at the heart of the Christian gospel. 00:07:41.900 --> 00:07:48.400 I don't know what picture you have of God, but here, John describes God as a loving father. 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:56.439 We often think of God, don't we, as the creator God, as the ruler or the almighty, and he is those things. 00:07:57.500 --> 00:08:02.120 But first and foremost, he is a loving father. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:08.759 Not an imperfect or abusive earthly father, but a loving heavenly father. 00:08:09.379 --> 00:08:16.819 Because before he created the universe, he existed eternally in loving relationship with the Son by the Spirit. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:21.800 And get this, he has lavished that love on us. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:27.560 So thoroughly that we should be born again as children of God. 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.959 Born, as the end of chapter 2 puts it, of him. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:38.199 And have a look with me, halfway through, back in verse 1, halfway through verse 1. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:42.840 And that is what we are. 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:47.860 This is an emphatic reminder of what Christ has won for us on the cross. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:51.840 That incredible hope in a future perfect reality. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:54.960 And an incredible family identity today. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:02.600 And that is all very well and good, but what difference does that make for us? 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:08.840 What difference does Christ's appearing make for you and for me today? 00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:11.040 What does the light really do? 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:14.180 Well, here's our first point. 00:09:14.540 --> 00:09:16.300 There is freedom in the light. 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:18.940 Have a look at verse 4 of our passage with me. 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:23.180 Everyone who sins breaks the law. 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:26.400 In fact, sin is lawlessness. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:30.540 This is a vital place to begin. 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:36.460 And I think it's a really helpful way to understand what sin and darkness is. 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:39.440 Because yes, sin is to break the law. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:46.060 It is to disobey God and his perfect standard for how we are to live as humans in this world. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:50.200 But more than that, it is a state of lawlessness. 00:09:51.560 --> 00:09:55.820 Sin is not primarily an action, but a legal position. 00:09:55.820 --> 00:10:03.520 It is the human condition of pursuing our own way instead of God's. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:09.320 And there's a price to be paid for that condition, that state, that legal position. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:13.320 And Jesus came to pay that price. 00:10:14.020 --> 00:10:16.060 Have a look in our passage at verse 5. 00:10:17.260 --> 00:10:21.680 But you know that he appeared that he might take away our sins. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:26.139 So here's the first reason for Christ's appearing in our passage. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:28.199 To take away our sins. 00:10:28.979 --> 00:10:32.139 Jesus has dealt with the penalty of sin. 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:34.339 We know that he did that on the cross. 00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:39.259 And there is freedom in the light because there is freedom at the cross. 00:10:40.959 --> 00:10:49.559 But more than that, to take away our sins also means freeing us from the power of sin in our lives today. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:52.259 Get this, this is so important. 00:10:52.479 --> 00:10:57.019 Freedom from the power of sin does not mean that we will no longer be tempted by sin. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:11:01.119 It doesn't even mean that we're no longer ever going to give in to that temptation. 00:11:02.439 --> 00:11:09.739 What it means is that as our sin is brought into the light, we are no longer held captive by it. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:14.699 It's still there, but it's no longer in the dark. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.000 Let me illustrate with a story. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.960 I recently went on a Bothy trip with a friend of mine. 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:24.240 We set off from the car park at about 3 in the afternoon. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.860 We knew that the walk was going to be about 10 kilometers. 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.440 We reckoned it would probably take us about two hours. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.679 Except that the walk was uphill the entire way. 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:36.399 We had quite a lot of kit with us. 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:39.019 And it was pretty awful weather. 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:41.940 So it ended up taking us a lot more than two hours. 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:46.160 Which meant that when we got to the Bothy, it was very definitely getting dark. 00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:52.800 In fact, as I pushed open the door to the Bothy, it was literally pitch black inside. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:58.200 Luckily, I had just bought myself a nice new head torch, which I was proudly wearing. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:01.760 And so as I stepped into the Bothy, I switched on my head torch. 00:12:02.900 --> 00:12:03.760 And what happened? 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:05.300 Well, the room was lit up. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.620 That's what light does, isn't it? 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:08.100 It does away with darkness. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.500 It allows you to see. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:14.679 And what I saw was a mess. 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:20.820 Whoever had used the Bothy before us had left the place in a complete and utter state. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:24.580 And because of the light, I could see that mess clearly. 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:31.360 So when Jesus is described as the light of the world, it sounds like a lovely thing, right? 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:35.440 What exactly does this light cause us to see? 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.580 Well, I take it one of the things that it causes us to see is the mess. 00:12:39.640 --> 00:12:43.000 It causes us to see the sin in our lives. 00:12:44.180 --> 00:12:48.560 And the surprising thing is that in seeing that, there is real freedom. 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:52.560 And we all desperately need that freedom. 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:55.860 Have a look at verse 6 of our passage with me. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:13:00.759 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:06.679 No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.720 That is uncomfortable to read, is it not? 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:16.440 It's uncomfortable because we're all a little bit like Augustus Kloot. 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.320 Do you remember Augustus Kloot? 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.779 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? 00:13:19.920 --> 00:13:25.700 He's one of the kids who wins a golden ticket, wins the opportunity to go to Willy Wonka's incredible chocolate factory. 00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:32.160 And in one scene, at the heart of the factory, the children are told that they can eat whatever they like in that room. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.339 One instruction they're given. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.480 Do not drink from the chocolate river. 00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:43.799 Unable to control his love for chocolate, Augustus Kloot runs straight to the chocolate river, doesn't he? 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:45.259 He starts to feast. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:48.120 Before long, he loses balance. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.339 He falls into the river. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.699 He can't swim. 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:52.120 He's sucked up a pipe. 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:52.719 He gets stuck. 00:13:52.819 --> 00:13:55.059 It looks as though he will surely die. 00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.500 Why? 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.979 Because he knowingly broke the rules. 00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:05.619 When was the last time you knowingly broke the rules? 00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:09.979 When was the last time you knowingly committed a sin? 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:15.279 When did you last knowingly disobey God? 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:22.019 Take what you know he has said is best for you and trample it underfoot. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:26.579 Our passage says no one who lives in him keeps on sinning. 00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:33.279 My guess is for most of us, this is a deeply uncomfortable passage. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:38.539 We all pursue our own way instead of God's in some way, don't we? 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:47.220 Is John saying that the Christian should be perfect, completely free from the presence of sin in their lives? 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:51.079 Well, no, I don't think he is. 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:55.860 If that is what John is saying, then it contradicts what he says elsewhere in this letter. 00:14:56.280 --> 00:14:58.580 Keep a finger in our passage and just turn back with me. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:02.060 It might be just one page to chapter one of this letter. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:05.160 In verse eight, have a look at verse eight with me. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.460 John says this, 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:13.820 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 00:15:15.660 --> 00:15:19.140 Is John saying that the Christian will never sin? 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:21.899 Well, clearly that's not what he's saying. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:24.240 Bit of context here. 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:27.899 John was writing to a church where a split had occurred. 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:35.460 It seems as though a group has emerged who were claiming that they could be absolutely free from sin in this life. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.039 How discouraging that is to a real human being. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:43.699 But John is writing to give real human Christians assurance. 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:47.319 And he responds here in chapter one very clearly. 00:15:47.459 --> 00:15:50.179 We cannot claim to be without sin. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:58.500 Instead, I think he means to say that before we understand what it means to live in Christ, 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:01.679 we need to see him, the light. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:07.179 And by that light, see the mess and sin in our own darkness. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.779 And to see that brings real freedom. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:19.179 Because for each of us, there will be ways and places that we are living our own way instead of God's. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:21.919 Maybe even without realizing it. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:31.079 Living in light of the world around us rather than in light of Christ and what he's shown us in his word. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:35.219 Living monkey see, monkey do. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.959 It's simply the human condition. 00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:41.360 Areas of our lives where the light has not yet shone. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:48.759 I think so often as Christians, we seek to cover over our sin and our shame, 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.560 to pretend as though we've got things sorted. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:56.060 I've often heard Christian friends say something like, 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.860 yes, I do that. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:17:02.399 I try and be perfect in order to be a good witness to my non-Christian friends. 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:07.680 But the reality is that our non-Christian friends, they see right through that kind of behavior. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.720 What they see is a Pharisee. 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:16.360 They see someone praying that Pharisaical prayer from Luke chapter 18. 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:18.940 God, I thank you that I am not like other people. 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:21.900 And they see right through it. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.060 It's no wonder that Christians are so often accused of hypocrisy. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.480 Because pasting over the cracks simply does not last. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:39.960 Even the most shameful private sin has a horrible way of displaying itself publicly as it changes us from the inside out. 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:46.460 But there is real freedom available in living in the light. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:49.980 In acknowledging that we are sinful human beings. 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:53.380 Not in accepting or wallowing in that fact. 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:59.400 But like the tax collector in that same story from Luke chapter 18. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.680 Praying God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:08.780 In that prayer, real freedom is found. 00:18:10.280 --> 00:18:14.180 Sam Albury, a Christian writer, said something like this. 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:16.240 I'm paraphrasing, but I think it's brilliant. 00:18:16.760 --> 00:18:20.600 We don't need to be perfect to make Jesus look good. 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:26.139 We need to be honest so that people see that Jesus is perfect. 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.579 Let me say that again. 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:32.980 We don't need to be perfect to make Jesus look good. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:38.839 We need to be honest so that people see that Jesus is perfect. 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:41.419 Friends, we need to be honest about our sin. 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:45.359 Because there is freedom in the light. 00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:50.419 And there is also a wonderful purpose in the light. 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:55.360 This is the second reason for Christ's appearing for Christmas in our passage. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.480 Purpose in the light. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:02.080 It's pretty dark in Edinburgh at this time of year, isn't it? 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:07.180 But you know, today in Iceland, there are only four hours of sunlight. 00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.800 Four hours of sunlight. 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.100 That is wild. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:15.920 And as a result, there is very little plant life in that part of the world at this time of year. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.779 It's basic biology, isn't it? 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:20.399 Plants need light to live. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.740 And we need plants to live. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:26.079 Light is so key to life. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:31.119 Imagine a world where it was literally dark all of the time. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.579 Not even four hours of sunlight. 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.539 You can't, can you? 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:37.539 That is an unimaginable world. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:41.500 Because light is so key to life. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:49.319 Because light has a wonderful, transforming, life-giving purpose. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:52.740 How does that purpose come about? 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:55.759 Well, have a look at verse 8 of our passage with me. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:13.539 Here's our second appearing. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:22.980 Did you notice at the start of that verse that the one who does what is sinful is of the devil? 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:30.180 You'll often hear, won't you, people say that they are absolutely free to do whatever they like in this life. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:37.839 But the reality is, as soon as someone says that they are free to live a life that goes against God's good plan, 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:40.440 the devil is right there with them. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:44.620 Absolutely thrilled that they cannot see him. 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:47.559 But there is good news. 00:20:48.739 --> 00:20:51.719 This is the purpose of the light in this verse. 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:54.619 To destroy the devil's work. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:58.099 To fulfill the promises of Genesis 3. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:00.419 To crush the serpent's head. 00:21:01.179 --> 00:21:04.339 And as Christ destroys the devil's work in us, 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:07.539 we are enabled to become what we already are. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.819 Children of God. 00:21:10.479 --> 00:21:12.679 Free from the clutches of the devil. 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:15.940 There is a great purpose in the light. 00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:21.440 As Christians, we are people who are becoming increasingly like Jesus. 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.279 How does that happen? 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.000 Well, have a look at verse 9 with me. 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:31.080 No one who is born of God will continue to sin. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:31.860 Why? 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:35.620 Because God's seed remains in them. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:38.039 What is God's seed? 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:42.140 Well, some of the commentators say God's seed is God's word. 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:45.539 Others say that it is God's spirit. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:48.720 For me, you can't separate the two. 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:53.420 Since the word and the spirit work together as we grow as Christians, 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:55.820 I suspect John is talking about both. 00:21:56.620 --> 00:22:00.940 The word is applied to the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:05.180 As we read, listen to, and sit under his word, 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:08.740 the Holy Spirit causes us to be born again. 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.740 This is how it happens. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:13.600 This is how we become increasingly like Jesus. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:16.940 This is how we become what we already are. 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:19.259 Children of God. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:24.019 Remember that story that I began with, Marina Chapman? 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:30.319 Well, after 10 years of living this monkey see, monkey do life, 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:32.519 something remarkable happened. 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:38.139 She looked down from where she was now, up in the trees, living with the monkeys. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.720 And on one of the trails where they used to run backwards and forwards, 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:44.359 she saw something, something shiny. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.940 And it captured her curiosity. 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:53.480 So as now a 14-year-old teenager, she comes down out of the trees and she begins to explore. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:58.600 And eventually she finds this shiny object that had captured her curiosity. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.000 And she picks it up and it terrifies her. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:13.559 She picked up this shiny object and she noticed that it had eyes and a nose and a mouth. 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:18.879 She said, actually, that she put it in her mouth to test what it is, just like any animal would. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.579 But as she brings it out of her mouth, it's there, still got eyes, it's still terrifying. 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:29.319 And it was in that moment that she suddenly realized, 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:34.619 as she looked in this mirror, that she was looking at herself. 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:39.779 It was at that moment that she suddenly realized, 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:43.440 as she saw her reflection staring back at her, terrified. 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:48.680 It was then that she says she realized, I am not like them. 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:53.940 All of her life, she was trying to be something that she was not, 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:57.899 living this kind of monkey see, monkey do sort of life. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:02.379 But for the first time, when she looked into a mirror, 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:06.560 she says that she discovered, I am not what they are. 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:10.060 I was born not to be like them. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.780 I was born for a different purpose. 00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:15.540 I was made for more than this. 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:18.600 This is not who I am. 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:24.220 In James chapter 1, verses 23 to 25, 00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:27.480 God's word is compared to a mirror. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:29.259 It says this, 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:32.779 anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.819 is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:41.599 and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:48.160 We live in a monkey see, monkey do sort of world. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:53.480 And the truth is, if we are Christians, we are still humans. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:59.500 Humans who are so easily influenced by what we watch on TV, 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.880 what we read, 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:05.539 what the people that we surround ourselves with are doing. 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:11.380 And it is, I think, so important and worth being aware 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:14.019 of what we are filling our heads with, 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:16.279 what we are filling our imaginations with, 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.839 because we will end up reflecting the culture 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:22.640 that we let ourselves be captured by. 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:27.400 I read an article yesterday, came across it on Twitter. 00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:29.539 It was written by a non-Christian, 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:33.339 and the author said this about the church in 2020. 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:38.960 Instead of making me want to become more like them, 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:44.099 it looks very much as if they want to become more like me. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:47.079 That makes me sad. 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.420 Doesn't that make you sad? 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:53.300 But it can be different for the Christian. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:57.300 It can be different for the true Christian. 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.980 What does the Christian see? 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:01.140 What does the Christian do? 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:05.660 Well, the true Christian sees what they might become. 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:09.700 They see the purpose of the light 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:13.259 as they are exposed to the word of God, 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:14.279 this mirror. 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:18.759 And the Christian is transformed as they see it. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:23.819 And they don't simply read it to tick a box. 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:26.680 They don't simply come to church and hear it taught 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:30.960 in order to be puffed up and grow in their knowledge, 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:36.220 or to continue to attempt to paste over the sin and shame in their lives. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.960 No, as we pick up our Bibles, 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.759 as we sit under its teaching, 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:43.860 as the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:48.200 Jesus begins to reveal to us what we were really made for. 00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:51.460 We start to see that there is something more 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:54.779 than this monkey see, monkey do for us. 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:59.940 And instead of being impacted by the people around us, 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:02.339 we begin to impact them. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:05.799 Because as we read God's word, 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:09.039 we see that we are children of God, 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:11.299 called into the light, 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:15.980 where there is real freedom and real purpose. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.359 Let me pray. 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:23.599 Heavenly Father, thank you so much 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:25.740 that you sent your son 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:30.259 as a magnificent bolt of light into our world. 00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:34.500 Lord, thank you that in that light 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:36.579 there is freedom and purpose 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:39.019 for those of us who have been born again 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.759 as children of God. 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:45.019 I pray for each of us 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:48.819 that we would be transformed by the light, 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:53.219 that we would allow it to work in our lives 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:55.299 and have such a great impact on us 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:57.640 that we cannot help but impact 00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:00.279 those around us who do not yet know you. 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.100 Amen. 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.160 Amen. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.580 Amen. 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.180 Amen. 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.360 Amen. 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.259 Amen. 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.340 Amen. 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.440 Amen. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.060 Amen. 00:28:12.060 --> 00:28:13.380 Amen. 00:28:16.560 --> 00:28:17.740 Amen. 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.500 Amen. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:29.480 Amen. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.220 Amen.