Well, please do have a seat and a very good morning to you.
As I said, I've been on a Christians in Sport camp all week.
I felt 30.
Felt unfit.
Hands up here if you've done a bleep test.
Do you remember doing that at school?
The fitness test called the bleep test.
There's a fitness test that we do, and we did it at Christians in Sport on the last day of the camp.
Leaders in, campers in, everybody in.
Ross and Daniel beat me.
And I'd love to say that that didn't bother me, but I'd be absolutely lying.
I am not 16 anymore.
I'm 30.
Here we go.
If you have a Bible, why don't you turn to 1 John chapter 2.
We're in it verses 3 to 14 this morning.
1 John, one of the books of the Bible, quite easy to find.
If you go to Revelation right at the back of your Bibles and flick back a few, you'll find it there.
So 1 John chapter 2, verses 3 to 14.
Why don't we pause just before we begin and let's pray together.
Let's pray.
Father God, we've just been singing about the deepness of your love for us.
That all-excelling, costly, sacrificial love.
And so we ask now that you would come and you would move that truth from our lips down to our hearts.
That as we turn to look at your words now, your spirit would come and would help us to learn and would help us to love the Lord Jesus and the truth about him.
And so it's in his name that we pray.
Amen.
So before diving into this passage this morning, why don't we just take a minute just to remind ourselves of the situation into which John is writing this letter.
So John is writing to a very unsettled church congregation.
Unsettled because they've witnessed a lot of people leave their church.
Now I wonder at this side of the room, I wonder if I could ask you just to stand up for a minute.
And I want you to turn and I want you to face the rest of the church.
Now imagine John and I, first thing on Monday morning, we get an email from these guys collectively.
And it says that they are resigning their memberships and they're leaving the church.
So we're courteous.
We ask them why.
Why are they leaving the church?
Maybe they've got a job somewhere else in the country.
Maybe they're moving away.
Maybe they've got a job somewhere else in the city and they just want to go and be part of a local church.
Why are they leaving?
And we get an email back and it says, actually we're leaving because, and it's got nothing to do with relocation.
But we're leaving because you guys are actually holding us back in our Christian walk.
You guys are the spiritual kindergarten.
And to be honest, we pity you really.
And we've moved on to greater things.
In the email that comes back to us, they use phrases like,
we've got an inside track on hearing from God that the rest of you don't have.
We don't struggle with sin like the rest of you do.
In fact, we've written a book called Ten Ways to Avoid Sin.
Here's a signed copy of it.
We know God.
You don't.
And so with a superiority complex in the minds,
they wave goodbye
to the church
and
out of the door they head.
And they move
into Burrowmure High School,
just across the road there,
and they start meeting, calling themselves
the true Brunsfield Evangelical Church.
You can sit down now.
But that is the situation
into which John is writing.
That's what's gone on in the church
behind the scenes of this letter.
Now question,
if you were
one of the ones that were staying in the church
and you witnessed
all of this go on in front of you,
you heard what they were saying
about the rest of you,
what is the question
that would be
front and centre in your mind?
What's the question?
So if I were
sitting in the pew,
the question in my mind would be,
are they right?
Are they right?
As I sit in the pew
each Sunday morning,
as I come to meet
with my fellow believers
during the week
in a small group
or whatever it is,
how do I know
that I'm right
and they are wrong?
How do I know
that I'm backing
the right team
and have not just
completely misunderstood
this Christian thing?
Maybe there is
a natural higher progression
from the gospel
that I'm missing out on.
The question,
front and centre
of their minds,
would be,
how do I know
that I know God?
How do I know
when I witness this going on,
how do I know
that my faith
is the real deal?
You see,
that is the question
that's in the pews
behind this letter.
It is a massively
unsettling time
for this church family.
Confidence shaking,
certainty bruised,
assurance flagging
and probably lacking.
How do I know,
how can I be sure
that I'm a genuine,
bona fide,
real deal Christian?
Now,
before our daughter
Chloe was born,
Alex and I
had a good spring
clean of her flat,
we needed to make room
for her room
and one of the things
that we found
when we were going
through all lots of clothes
and throwing stuff out,
I found my old watch.
I found the watch
that my dad had given me
as a skinny 17 year old.
I thought I'd lost it,
I was absolutely delighted
that I found it.
But the thing is,
when my dad,
I remember when my dad
gave me it
as a 17 year old,
I'll be honest,
I didn't think
it was a big deal.
Thanks dad.
But now as a 30 year old,
when I come to find
this watch,
I'm intrigued.
I want to know
how this watch works,
I want to know
the mechanics of it.
I want to know
if it's the real deal.
So I'm a 21st century man,
I googled it,
and lo and behold,
what came up
to test if your church,
sorry,
test if your watch
is the real deal,
what you look for
is the word
Swiss made
on your watch.
Tiny,
tiny little letters,
Swiss made.
That's what separates
a true watch
from a false watch.
That's how you know
you've got the real deal
and not just a pretender
to the watch world.
And lo and behold,
I looked at my watch
and there it was,
Swiss made,
tiny little letters.
And I felt good
because my dad
hadn't slipped me a fake.
But you see,
that is what John
is trying to do
in this section
this morning.
You see,
these people that are
still in this church,
the comments
from this group
have left them
massively unsure
about their faith.
Is it the real deal?
And what John
is doing this morning
is he's writing to them
and he's saying,
when I look at your lives,
when I see how you behave,
when I see your faith
in action,
you've got no need
to question your faith.
You have got Swiss made
rent all over your lives.
This is all about
assurance this morning.
And we've got to ask,
how does John know that?
Is he just kind of
hopefully saying that
to kind of cheer them up?
How does he know that
for sure?
Answer,
because their knowing
is showing.
Their knowing
is showing.
Their Christian lives
are displaying
certain traits
that those who are
the pretenders
aren't showing.
And what John
is doing all the way
through this section
and through this letter
as a whole,
he's got a dual aim
in mind.
He's seeking to
unmask and expose
the pretenders
and at the same time
he's seeking to give
great reassurance
to the rest of the church.
And the proof of the pudding
this morning
in our verses
that John identifies
is that they
obey Jesus.
They obey Jesus.
And most particularly
what they do
is that they love
the fellow brothers
and sisters
in the church.
Their knowing
is showing.
Look at what he says
about obedience
to Jesus
verses 3 to 6.
John writes this,
we know
that we have come
to know him.
Do you see that phrase
there?
We know.
We know that we have
come to know them
if we keep
his commands.
Whoever says
I know him
but does not do
what he commands
is a liar
and the truth
is not in that person.
But if anyone
obeys his words
love for God
is truly made
complete in them.
This is how we know
that we are in him.
Whoever claims
to live in him
must live
as Jesus
did.
So the logic there
if you follow it
is quite simple
isn't it?
You claim to know God
you do as he says.
You claim to be
living in the truth
then you'll follow
the one who is
the truth
Jesus Christ.
You see
true love for God
says John
shows itself
not in mystical
experience
not in theological
talk
not in sentimental
language
but true love
shows itself
in nitty gritty
self denying
all encompassing
obedience
to what God
has said.
Look with me
notice the speech
marks around
I know him
at verse 4.
Notice the phrases
like whoever says
or whoever claims
at verse 4 and 6.
If that's what you're
hearing out of
someone's mouth
I imagine that's
the precise claim
that this group
are making.
If that's what you
hear out their mouth
but you see something
completely different
in action
then you know
you're dealing
with a fake.
What does he say?
He's a liar.
A strong language
isn't it?
He's a liar
in whom the truth
does not reside.
You listen to him
you obey.
You talk the talk
you back it up
with the walk.
That's how you'll know.
That's how you know.
You know God.
I used to live
down in Bristol
for a few years
and I had a friend
down in Bristol
who used to work
for UCCF
the University College
Christian Fellowship
and he told me
this story one time
about an American
student mission team
and they went up
to the north of England
somewhere
I think it was Durham
and they were intent
on sharing the good news
of the gospel
all around campus
and the guys
from UCCF
once the American team
were back in America
they phoned them
and they asked
for some feedback.
How had it gone?
And amazingly
the American team
reported that
revival had hit Durham.
All around the campus
people were becoming
Christians
and the guys
from UCCF
looked at each other
they heard this
and they thought
somebody's forgot to
tell me
it's not what they were
seeing happen
in front of them
and do you know
what had happened?
The American mission team
had gone around campus
with a religious
identification survey
so all it said was
which religion
would you describe
yourself as?
Now you can picture that
can't you?
Hindu
Sikh
Muslim
Christian
you can imagine
what most people
think
so the report
had gone around
when they got back
to America
that revival
had hit
but actually
the guys in Durham
knew that was
a very different thing
they ticked
the Christian box
but I dare say
not all of those
who ticked the Christian box
would actually be
committed followers
of the Lord Jesus
now the question
how would you identify
the true followers
committed
to the Lord Jesus?
Well you'd look
for something akin
to what John is
outlining here
would you not?
Obedience
a heart
inclination
and a desire
that wants to go
with God
that wants to obey
his commands
not live like the world
lives
somebody who is seeking
to glorify God
every day
in their lives
they're saying no
to the desires
of the world
they're saying no
to themselves
and they're saying yes
to God
and his commands
someone who is seeking
to walk in the light
and not persisting
to walk in the darkness
obedience
that's how you'll know
a Swiss made
real deal believer
really simple
if you know him
you'll obey
and you see John
as we move on here
John doesn't leave them
to figure out
what that's going to look
like in their situation
remember this church
situation that's going
he tells them exactly
what obedience
will look like
and he sharpens his focus
it was quite general
in that first section
wasn't it?
if you love him
you'll obey
now he focuses right in
this is a sharp end
of this section here
what is it going
to look like?
well love
is the commandment
that John's got
in view here
and I think particularly
in thinking of that
verse from John 13
that John read
for us earlier
he's thinking of this
a new commandment
I give to you
love one another
as I have loved you
so you must love
one another
by this
everyone will know
that you are my disciples
if you love
one another
so let's read
verses 7 to 11
let's see how he works
that one out
John writes this
dear friends
I am not writing
to you a new command
but an old one
which you have had
since the beginning
this old command
is the message
you have heard
yet I am writing
you a new command
its truth
is seen in him
and in you
because the darkness
is passing
and the true light
is already shining
anyone who claims
to be in the light
but hates a brother
or sister
is still in darkness
anyone who loves
their brother and sister
lives in the light
and there is nothing
in them to make them stumble
but anyone who hates
a brother or sister
is in the darkness
and walks around
in the darkness
they do not know
where they are going
because the darkness
has blinded them
so these people
who have
who have waved cheerio
to the church
this group here
who are claiming
to walk in the light
but want nothing
to do with this church
family
who they don't get on
with
John makes it crystal
clear that
that doesn't add up
that's not how it works
you cannot claim
to walk in the light
and yet walk
in the darkness
you cannot claim
to love God
and love his people
and then have no regard
for God's children
and see the strong
language that John
uses there at verse 11
it's a strong word
isn't it
it's one that we tell
our children not to use
hate
and I think as John
watches this scene
unfolds in this church
he sees that as the
true reason that
these people have left
because to be honest
they can't be bothered
with the rest of you
you're holding them back
and John is saying
if that's what's truly
going on in somebody's life
if that's what's going
on in their heart
then that's a telltale sign
that they are not
people who know
God
they're walking
in the darkness
and not
in the light
you see
true light
true knowledge
of God
a true heart
that knows God
will be marked
by a radical love
for others
and I think that's
what he means
by this whole
old commandment
new commandment
language
it's a little bit
confusing at first
isn't it
but the command
to love God
and others
like we've sung
it's always been
part of the DNA
of God's family
isn't it
but now in the Lord
Jesus
not only did he
call it a new command
but actually he
invested in it
such a deeper
and richer meaning
and he embodied it
and the definition
of love now
is cross shaped
and it's this love
that is to mark
the Christian community
and so here
it's a big challenge
to all of us
isn't it
we need to see
the link
the inseparable link
between our relationship
with God
and our relationship
with others
you want to put it
another way
I'm quite simple
this is how I understand
it
my this way relationship
should be the same
as these way relationships
you cannot separate
your relationship
with God
and your relationships
with your brothers
and sisters in Christ
the two are interconnected
like Frank Sinatra said
love and marriage
they go together
but that's what he's saying
the gospel
joins us together
and the gospel
compels us
to love one another
as Christ has loved us
do you see
we are connected
in Christ
as a church family
the gospel
has connected us
in Christ
therefore
we care for one another
we love one another
we stick with
one another
we support one another
why?
because Jesus
loves you
and it's really
as simple as that
isn't it
if you love him
then you'll obey
so there it is
plain and simple
from John
those who walk
in the darkness
will be those
who don't obey
God's commands
and who hate the brothers
that's what you'll see
in front of you
that's how you'll know
someone who truly
knows God
that's how you'll know
him
so what about these guys
who've stayed in the church
because it's been quite
general up to this point
hasn't it
if this
then this
if this
then this
how does he
diagnose
these guys
who are left
in the church
well at this section
verses 12 to 14
we get a cascade
of reassurance
and confidence
are they the real deal
remember that's the question
we're asking
are they the real deal
you bet they're the real deal
says John
and I think what he's doing here
is pulling a lot of the strands
together from this first section
that we've been looking at
over the first few weeks
this is the real Swiss made
section of this passage
verses 12 to 14
let's read it together
and see how this works out
John writes this
I am writing to you
dear children
because your sins
have been forgiven
on account of his name
I am writing to you
fathers
because you know him
who is from the beginning
I am writing to you
young men
because you have
overcome the evil one
I write to you
dear children
because you know
the father
I write to you
fathers
because you know
him who is from
the beginning
I write to you
young men
because you are strong
and the word of God
lives in you
and you have
overcome
the evil one
now here's what I think
John is trying to do here
we've got three groups
of people in this
little section here
you'll notice that
we've got children
we've got fathers
we've got young men
and he addresses them
twice doesn't he
now that's quite unusual
and I think when we see that
in our Bibles
when we see repetition
when we see authors
trying to do stuff like that
it's
we've got to hit the pause button
why is he doing that
why does he mention it twice
does one not suffice
well here's what I think
he is doing here
he's talking to the family of faith
and the reason he does this
is because what he's about
to say here
is something that they need
to stop and think about
and grasp
this is important
he's talking to the family of faith
so by children
I think he's thinking of new Christians
children in the faith
by young men
I think he's addressing those
who are developed
in the faith
by fathers
I think he's thinking of those
seasoned and mature
in their faith
so he's writing to the family of God
now if you're struggling to picture
what that looks like
just look around
is that not true
of the family here
do we not have people
who've been Christians
for maybe two months
maybe you've been a Christian
for two years
maybe you've been a Christian
for two decades
it's the family of God
isn't it
and just look at with me
because I think what we need to see
is
who he's addressing
but more importantly
what is he saying to them
and look with me
at some of the statements
he makes to these groups
your sins have been forgiven
on account of his name
you know him
who is from the beginning
you have overcome
the evil one
you know
the father
you know him
who is from the beginning
the word of God
lives in you
you have overcome
the evil one
now just think about that
for a minute
remember the situation
he's writing to this group
of Christians
who've remained in this church
who are unsettled
who are questioning
their faith
who are questioning
whether they can really trust
the apostles gospel message
that they've heard
do we know God
well look what he's saying
he says to the family of faith
regardless of whether
you've been a Christian
ten years
ten minutes
one year
because your trust is in Jesus
you've confessed your sins
you're walking in the light
you're loving
your brothers and sisters
you are the real deal
you have it all
forgiveness
fellowship with God
his word
living in you
victory over the evil one
wonderful truths
are they not
imagine what it must have been like
for that church family
and then John writes this
what wonderful assurance
the benefits
the truths
of what it means
to abide
in Christ
your life
says John
is tied up
with his
and these truths
these glorious truths
are yours
because you are
in Christ
don't let anyone
tell you that the gospel
is not enough
and what he's doing here
is he's saying
here is the test
of what it looks like
to live in the light
and not in darkness
and these guys over here
the guys who have left
they've failed
you've passed
you're the real deal
what a wonderful assurance
these words must have been
I don't think we can
fully understand it
what wonderful assurance
can you feel the confidence
draining back into this church
you've watched all this happen
but what does this mean for us
well I think just as we come to
close this morning
there's two applications
that I want us to take away
from this passage
now I like the letter C
I don't know why
but both of these applications
begin with the letter C
there's a challenge
in this passage
and there's a great comfort
in this passage
firstly the challenge
John is telling this group
of Christians
that he's confident
that the real deal
why?
because their knowing
is showing
and it begs the question
doesn't it?
is our knowing
showing?
with people who
look in at our lives
people from outside the church
as they look at our lives
would they see
do they see
a living faith
in the Lord Jesus?
are we people
who are striving to be
not those who just
tick the Christian box
but actually those
whose hearts tick
with the sound of the gospel?
are we those
who live lives radically
that are cross shaped?
are we radical
in our obedience
to the Lord
even when it doesn't
make sense?
even when we add it up
it doesn't make sense
even when it doesn't
look pretty
even when it costs us
are we those
who are staking it all
to follow Jesus?
and notice that word
that he uses there
at verse 6
abide
and I ask myself
as I read this
and prepared for this week
am I one
who is making
every effort
to abide
in Christ?
Christ
now what does that
look like?
would you want to know
something that I found
out this week?
I don't know whether
I'm coming ridiculously
late to the party
here or not
but I found out
what HMB stands for
does anyone know
what HMB stands for?
put your hands up
right so I am coming
late to the party here
right
every day is a school day
it's great
so I never knew
what HMB stood for
but it stands for
his master's voice
doesn't it?
and again
googled it
what does it mean?
well here's the logo
it's the dog
and the gramophone
and the story goes
that the dog's name
is Nipper
it's a great name
it has to be said
and the story goes
that Nipper's owner
Mark died
and his brother
Francis
from Mark
inherited three things
he inherited the dog
he inherited the gramophone
and he inherited some recordings
of Mark
when he used to sing
and
Francis noticed
that when he put
the recordings
on
on the gramophone
the dog would drop
everything
and would come and sit
and listen
he just loved being there
and that's where HMB
comes from
I didn't know that
but it's a great
illustration isn't it?
because
let's ask ourselves
this morning
are we listening
to the master's voice?
is there
a loving
relationship
there
of obedience?
if
when there's all
the noises in life
when it comes down
to the crunch of it
where would you want to be?
are you somebody
who wants to be
right at the master's feet?
listening to the
master's voice?
are you reading
your bible
to hear
what God
is saying
in his words?
are you exposing
yourself to his voice
at every single
given opportunity?
because in order
to obey
we need to know
what he's saying
don't we?
you see the people
who have left
this church
they're like dogs
who are running
after novelties
even though they
claim to be
listening to the master
John knows
that they're not
because if they were
they'd be obeying
what he was saying
I know
that you are
listening to the
master's voice
because not only
are you there
listening to it
but you're obeying
him
are we those
who are abiding
in Jesus?
are we making
every effort
to abide in him?
is our knowing
showing?
and I think especially
let's kick it up
a gear
especially in the way
that we are
with one another
are we those
who demonstrate
this radical love
to each other
that Jesus spoke about?
would the world
looking in at us
would they see us
as the real deal
by the way that we love
and we care for one another
by the way that we stick
with one another
through thick and thin
by the way that we
encourage one another
you know I was challenged
this week
do I play it safe
with the way I love?
when somebody in this family
when they rub you up
the wrong way
what's your reaction?
do you run a mile?
or do you stick with them?
do you love them?
do you pray for them?
do you care for them?
and do you love them again?
simply because
they are your brother
and sister
in Christ
you know when was the last time
on a Sunday morning
you spoke to somebody
who was not like you?
you spoke to them
and the primary motivation
for you speaking to them
was simply that you wanted
to love them
and encourage them
and to spur them on
John knows that this church
they walk in the light
because they listen
and they obey
their loving
is showing
so there's the first scene
second scene
and we'll finish with this
see the comfort
that these verses are to us
John is writing
to this church
and he's saying
no matter what's being said
over here
you've got everything
in Jesus
what the departed
are claiming
let's be honest
it looks quite impressive
doesn't it?
victory over sin
new insights into God
higher spiritual knowledge
of God
victory over sin
I mean that sounds
impressive
and I bet those who stayed
they looked at their own lives
having hearing all this
they looked at their own lives
and they felt
seriously deflated
I long for that
and I wonder if that's true
in your own life
as well
do you
feel that
in your Christian life?
let's take it on a
global sense first
do you look at the church
in Edinburgh?
do you look at the 2%
of this population
that goes to an evangelical church
under the scent of the gospel?
and then do you look
at the size of the city?
do you look at the size
of the nation
of Scotland?
and you think
boy we are seriously
not impressed
do you look then
at your own life
and you still struggle
with sin?
you are so aware
of it in your life
you know where you want
to be in your Christian walk
but you can never seem
to get there
and you think to yourself
why can I not
just
shrug this one off?
I wonder if you feel like that
do you feel deflated
in your faith?
let me ask you a simple question
are you more aware
or are you less aware
of your sin
since you became a Christian?
I don't know if you're like me
I am massively more aware
of my sin
of my shortcomings
now that I'm a Christian
than I was before
and we can feel deflated
but I think the assurance
in this passage
is if you feel like that
then that is what it looks like
to be in the light
because you see
this isn't about us
being perfect
this is about Jesus
this isn't about me
this is about him
this isn't about my kingdom
this is about his kingdom
and Christ is all we need
he is all sufficient
he is all powerful
it is all about him
because Jesus
he isn't just a good start
in your Christian walk
actually he's the every breath
of your Christian walk
we have everything in him
forgiveness
fellowship with God
his spirit living in us
final victory
all in him
because we abide in Christ
now maybe you're here
this morning
and actually
you're not
abiding in Jesus
well can I just point out
to you from this passage
lovingly
that actually
outside of him
there is no assurance
there is no forgiveness
there is no final victory
and you need to repent
you need to stop
and you need to turn
and you need to start
walking towards him
you need to put your faith
in him
and you need to follow
Jesus
but if you are
trusting in him
this morning
then see the wonderful
assurance that we have
from these verses
and see to it
that you never move on
from the glorious
gospel of Christ
Charles Spurgeon
one of my heroes
he said this
we hope to understand
the truth better
but we shall never
discover better truth
let me ask you
honestly as we come
to a close
does Jesus
does the gospel
does it still
thrill your heart
does Jesus
still move your heart
to sing
have you grown cold
in your affection
for him
in your understanding
of the gospel
are you tempted
to move on
to seemingly
greater things
have you become
distracted
by something else
and allowed it
to push the gospel
from the centre
of your life
well can I
encourage you
as we close
we never move on
from the gospel
we never move on
from the gospel
but we do
gaze deeper
into it
it is glorious
not that we are
glorious
but that he
is glorious
now we're going to
stand in just a second
and finish
by singing
all glory be to Christ
let me just read
some of the lyrics
to you
and then we'll stand
to sing this together
all glory be to Christ
our king
all glory be to Christ
his rule and reign
will ever sing
all glory be to Christ
his will be done
his kingdom come
on earth
as is above
who is himself
our daily bread
praise him
the lord
of love
all glory
be to Christ
our king
all glory be to Christ
his rule
and reign
will ever sing
all glory
be to Christ
amen
let's pray together
oh father god
we are so thankful
so thankful
for our time
together this morning
as we've gazed
at the glorious gospel
as we've gazed
at the glorious Christ
and it's our prayer
this week
that you would help us
to be those
who live
and love
as those who
truly treasure
Jesus Christ
in our lives
may we seek
your kingdom first
so help us lord
to be ever looking
to him
and his victory
and to find our identity
in him this week
we pray
amen
peace
rem露
and
amen
why
and
so
and
so
you
ah