Walking In the Light.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] All right good morning welcome to Village Church if this is your first time with us my name is Steve [0:05] I’m one of the pastors here, and I wanted to start this morning [0:09] By making a little push we do things at Village Church by seasons [0:14] And we are quickly approaching the summer season. We didn’t invent seasons by the way that’s been around for a long time [0:22] But but we’re heading towards the summer season and the reason that’s significant is a huge driving force of what we do here at [0:29] Village Church is community groups that is the environment that we have specifically designed

[0:35] Where relationships are formed and where discipleship begins to take root in our lives? [0:42] And what I want to do is is I want you to understand that if you are going to be [0:48] Involved in the life of Village Church [0:50] You will be confronted with your need [0:54] And it is a need with your need to be involved in community groups it is the environment where [1:01] discipleship

[1:02] Relationships are intentionally formed at Village Church. It is the environment that we have designed for that [1:09] So here’s the key a lot of times people will come to us and they will say I want to go deeper in discipleship [1:16] I want to to engage in discipleship [1:20] And then we’ll say well you need to go to community groups and they will say well no something else [1:26] Anything else and then so the response there is as well we got nothing [1:31] All right that there really is our response that is where we filter it through in the life of the church

[1:37] We don’t view ourselves as a church with community groups. It is not just a thing that we do we are a church of [1:44] Community groups that that is where we have designed for things to happen and here’s why [1:50] We want you to understand that there is in the Christian life [1:55] There is a way of viewing your life as you have your church life [2:00] And then you have your regular life and our goal with community groups is to begin [2:06] To take that wall down so that you will understand it is all one life

[2:11] That what is going on in the church needs to invade your private sector [2:17] It needs to go into your everyday life [2:21] And that is what I would say is the main difference between [2:26] Sunday school and community groups for us [2:29] All right, so Sunday school is kind of a part of what you do on Sunday you come you got that hour [2:34] Then you got the other hour, and then you you go through your week

[2:37] But what we want you to do is understand that what happens here needs to invade the everyday [2:43] So that’s why we intentionally and specifically meet in homes [2:48] So that what happens in the discipleship relationship is not contingent on thinking that the church is a building [2:55] But rather that you would understand the discipleship is about what happens in your everyday life [3:00] So that is where we are going to push you to engage in life [3:05] And we organize them and create an environment and that is what happens in discipleship groups because what we do here is usually a

[3:12] Monologue all right rarely do any of you talk back [3:16] All right during the service, and if you did they’ll probably weird for everybody so please please help no [3:22] But in the in community groups what happens is is that the monologue that happens here becomes a dialogue [3:29] And so with you know 10 12 sometimes fewer sometimes a few more people [3:34] You gather and it’s not just another Bible study [3:38] What really happens there is you begin to engage the question of

[3:42] Can what happens here can what we heard in the sermon can what we’re learning from God’s Word [3:49] Can we use that in our lives, and how do we use that in our lives? [3:53] Maybe you don’t understand some stuff that I’m talking about which is easy to do because I don’t understand half of it [3:58] And and you’re like man [3:59] Maybe somebody gleaned something that could help me understand that a little bit better [4:03] Or maybe you’ve got some doubts or maybe you’ve got some baggage from your life and some guilt that you’re carrying and man

[4:09] Wouldn’t it be so liberating if you found out you’re not the only weirdo that’s dealing with that [4:13] But you can be in a room full of people with the same thing with the same questions with the same doubts or maybe somebody’s got [4:20] A little perspective to help you with those doubts and help you with your belief. That is what discipleship is

[4:28] It cannot happen outside of relationships [4:32] That is how God has designed a discipleship as he calls us into relationship with himself [4:38] He pushes us into relationship with others and so that is what we’re doing when we engage in community groups [4:45] And here’s here’s my main challenge [4:47] We’re heading towards summer in the summer we specifically program eight or nine weeks where we kind of take a break from the regular [4:56] Program community group where where the the group leaders have guides, and we understand this is an endurance race

[5:01] It’s a marathon. It is not a sprint so the group leaders need a little time to just kind of not study so much and [5:09] People that are hosting need some time maybe to let their house get dirty [5:13] Because they all clean before you come I hope and you’re like no they don’t okay [5:17] But but we take a little time we take a little breather people go on vacation [5:23] And so we like to kind of make an environment for that, but there’s six weeks [5:27] between here and there if you are not in

[5:31] a community group [5:32] Here’s the challenge I want to set out for you today all right and you want to continue in the village church all right number one [5:38] I’m never gonna stop with this community group thing just expect me if you’re not in a group [5:43] I’m always gonna talk to you about it. That’s gonna be where we go first [5:46] All right, but for the next six weeks go out to the next steps table after the service talk to Nate or somebody else [5:53] That’s there and connect with a group and commit for six weeks to go to that group

[5:58] Here’s the beauty of that we take a break in six weeks if it’s like a root canal for the next six weeks you’re done [6:06] You’re done. You can just speak you can just kind of make your exit and be like I don’t do community groups anymore [6:10] Maybe I want to join another community group because those people are odd [6:13] The reality is they’re thinking the same thing about you and and over the next six weeks embrace the awkward [6:21] Discipleship is gonna be awkward [6:24] All right when people get together and don’t know each other you’re not gonna know what to say

[6:28] So maybe spend six weeks figuring out what to say figuring out how to learn with a group of people just do it [6:34] Just do me that favor and let me tell you in the next six weeks [6:36] I think you will grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ because what you’re gonna [6:41] Do is we put questions every week in the bulletin they go along with the sermon you can take that home [6:46] You’re gonna start going through those questions. You’re gonna go to group [6:49] They’re gonna talk about those questions and you’re gonna engage we go through entire books of the Bible here at a time

[6:54] So you’re gonna begin to study God’s Word [6:56] You’re gonna be praying with other people once a week. Let me tell you [7:00] God doesn’t design those things to keep you from growing [7:04] So I believe it will encourage growth in your life. So take that challenge give it six weeks and [7:12] Then in the fall I’ll ask you to do the same thing. So [7:15] Open your Bibles to first John chapter 2 first John chapter 2 this morning

[7:20] By the way the village serve project coming up this Saturday [7:24] If you weren’t here during Nate’s announcement you overslept or your kids peed his pants and so you were late because of that [7:30] Or something I say that because it’s happened to me, but uh [7:34] Not me my son [7:37] Probably has happened to me. I don’t know [7:39] But we’ve got a village serve project this coming Saturday

[7:42] And we can never give a lot of notice for those because the county doesn’t give us a lot of notice [7:47] They’re basically like do this in a week or that person’s getting a ticket [7:51] So if you’ve got around a golf schedule for Saturday morning, don’t go play golf [7:55] That’s what I’m that’s what I’m asking you to do. I’m asking to make a sacrifice next Saturday [8:00] Maybe don’t sleep in that one time come out [8:03] Engage in serving with us and become more like Christ as we serve the community

[8:09] First John chapter 2 we’re gonna be in verses 3 through verse 11 of chapter 2 this morning [8:15] But I just wanted to take a minute and kind of recap with you where we’ve been so far in the book of 1st [8:21] John what John is doing is is he is recounting [8:25] What the gospel according to John which is the first text that he wrote which is a [8:31] Recording of who Jesus is what Jesus did in this world from a firsthand perspective [8:36] What he saw in Jesus in the miracles what he viewed on the cross that he spent time

[8:43] With Jesus after the resurrection he saw the things himself of what God did [8:48] But between here and there about 50 and 6 50 or 60 years has passed [8:53] And so we’ve got a lot of people in the church of Jesus who weren’t alive on earth at the same time that Jesus was [9:00] So what John is doing is that since those people weren’t alive back then some of those firsthand accounts aren’t being passed off [9:08] And so some false hoods and some lies are starting entering the church and people are taking it upon themselves to redefine [9:15] What Christianity is so John?

[9:18] In 1st John is attempting to right the ship [9:22] He’s basically saying what Jesus did here is how it plays out into everyday life [9:30] the facts and truth of Jesus are [9:34] important for our everyday life and so he talked last week about the reality that the only way [9:42] through sin to God is [9:44] Jesus that he’s our advocate that he’s our

[9:46] Perpetuation he’s the way from God’s wrath over into the favor of God [9:52] Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and then raising to new life in [9:57] into new life in him as we walk in Christianity happens because of the truth of what he did and [10:05] So he’s basically [10:06] Making the point here’s what Jesus did [10:10] Here’s what the truth of that is going to do in your everyday life

[10:14] But where we’re heading into this morning is where he begins to draw some very clear lines as [10:22] Do what it means if you are a follower or if you aren’t a follower? [10:27] And so he’s going to draw some distinctions [10:30] He’s going to begin to say some phrases like if this is true in your life [10:35] Then you do not know Jesus and this is where the path begins to get a little weightier on us [10:41] Because it makes us take a little more inventory

[10:45] He begins to say that stuff that Jesus did it goes home with you it goes to work with you [10:51] It informs your life that informs your marriage it informs your family [10:56] And that’s where we begin to get a little uncomfortable frankly [11:00] Because I don’t know about you, but when anybody tries to tell me how to live my life I [11:06] Begin to push back and say who do you think you are and John’s point here is as well [11:11] He thinks he’s the son of God

[11:13] so he kind of has some say and [11:17] We’re going to begin to go into a few chapters of this where he draws very clear [11:24] Distinctions between following Jesus and not following Jesus because what we want to do is really the same thing that they wanted [11:31] To do 50 or 60 years after Jesus we want to make being a follower of Jesus ambiguous [11:37] Kind of subjective that you have your way, and I have my way and John’s basically riding the ship saying no no no no [11:45] Jesus is the only way

[11:47] All right, and here’s where he’s gonna. Go let’s read verses 3 through verse 11 [11:50] And then we’ll begin to unpack it and by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments [11:59] Whoever’s whoever says I know him, but does not keep his commandments [12:03] He is a liar and the truth is not in him [12:06] But whoever keeps his word in him truly the love of God is perfected by this we may know him [12:14] Excuse me by this we may know that we are in him

[12:17] Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked [12:23] Beloved I am writing you no new commandment [12:26] But an old commandment that you had from the beginning the old commandment is the word that you have heard [12:32] At the same time it is a new commandment that I am writing to you [12:36] Which is true in him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining [12:42] Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness

[12:46] Whoever loves his brother abides in the light and in him there is no cause for stumbling [12:52] But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going [12:59] Because the darkness has blinded his eyes pray with me father we come before you this morning

[13:10] It is my hope [13:12] That what we hear from your word what you speak into our lives this morning [13:18] Will change us [13:20] It will draw us closer to you and that we will begin to form a cross centered [13:27] Vision for our lives [13:31] Lord may we be liberated by redemption

[13:35] But in that liberation may we cling to who you are as you call us to follow you into a relationship? [13:43] this morning and [13:45] Father I pray that we would begin to be people who shine your light into darkness

[13:53] Because we find our hope and our joy [13:57] in who you are [14:00] Number one this morning what we see in this text is that our lives show [14:06] the legitimacy of our faith in Jesus our [14:11] Lives show the legitimacy of our faith in Jesus what he does is is that he takes the truth of who Jesus is [14:18] That we talked about last week the reality that we are a people who have sinned and

[14:24] Forgiveness is only available in who Jesus is and that he has promised to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [14:32] Because we take it to him because we realize that he is the only way in which we can ever come out of [14:40] the darkness of sin and live in his light that his light [14:44] Exposes us for who we really are and if we do not take that to him if we do not find our hope in him [14:53] If we do not go to him for forgiveness [14:55] We will be condemned to live in the darkness forever because he is the only source of light that exists

[15:03] But then as we continue through life as his followers as those who have trusted in Jesus his light [15:09] Exposes more of our sin as we grow closer to him [15:13] But rather than run from him in fear we continue to cling to him more and more as [15:20] Hope in his grace and his forgiveness continues to grow alongside of it [15:27] But then he draws a very clear distinction of what it means to live in this newfound favor with God [15:35] That Jesus offers to us. He tells us that to know him is to obey him

[15:42] I don’t know if if you’ve done this [15:44] But I’ve heard it so many times from so many different people that that I’m just going to assume that you’ve you’ve asked yourself [15:50] This question before but it’s just question that can sometimes drive us mad [15:54] It’s the question. How do I know that I’m really saved? [15:58] If you’ve ever been there [15:59] I know I have it’s kind of this question that sneaks up on you because maybe something’s going on in your life

[16:05] But you begin to doubt your salvation you begin to ask yourself [16:08] Am I really saved and that is what he’s dealing with in this passage [16:13] That’s what he means when he starts off with the phrase by this [16:18] We know [16:19] He’s dealing with the assurance of salvation [16:24] Are there mile markers in your life that you can look to to know that you know?

[16:30] You know kind of like that phrase to know that you’re really saved [16:34] To know that you have passed from condemnation and darkness to the light of Jesus Christ [16:40] And John is going to give us some specific answers here [16:44] He’s going to give us some answers and some inventory questions to ask ourselves to see if the light is really [16:50] Abiding in us and they are very challenging questions [16:54] Because he immediately takes us to the point of saying that if you know God if you are in his light

[17:02] You will obey him [17:06] He tells us that we know that we’ve come to know him if we keep his commandments [17:12] But whoever says I know him in verse 4 but does not keep his commandments [17:19] Is a liar and the truth is not in him [17:23] Right there in verse 4. He is beckoning us back [17:27] To recall what he said in chapter 1 verse 8 if you look in chapter 1 verse 8

[17:33] He says if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us [17:40] So there are two clear phrases where he uses the same thing [17:44] He says that the truth is not in us the same way [17:47] But the first time he’s saying it to her if you are denying that you are a sinner [17:55] Then you don’t know God [17:58] Because to know God is to have his light shine on you and expose that you are a sinner

[18:05] That is what it means to come to Christ to have your sins exposed to you in light of [18:13] His perfection, but then down here in verse 4 [18:16] He uses it another way and he says whoever says I know him [18:19] But does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him [18:24] So once you pass from that sinful state where you weren’t saved now you come to know him [18:32] You’ve confessed your sins you realize that you are a sinner in need of a savior

[18:36] And you believe that that Savior is Jesus Christ and you come out on the other side [18:40] He’s saying that you are then redeemed and you begin a lifestyle in which you are [18:48] Attempting and you are struggling to leave sin behind and grow closer to him [18:54] there’s a very important question that you need to ask yourself and [18:58] Begging to know if you’re really saved [19:02] And this is where we start we start with a question rather than a reality and that question is do you want?

[19:09] to obey God [19:12] Is there a desire inside of you to obey him or? [19:19] Do you have no desire to obey him? Are you fine with your sin? [19:25] Because what he’s not saying in verse 8 is okay [19:29] You know that you’re a sinner, and you’re honest about that, and you’ll tell anybody that wants to know hey [19:33] I’m just a sinner, and I’m sending all the time

[19:38] That doesn’t mean the truth’s in you [19:41] Because then he goes down to verse 4 and he’s saying on the other side of that admission on the other side of that [19:48] confession is [19:51] a change in [19:52] The desire of your heart [19:55] That if you know him you desire to follow him, but that obedience then flows out of a loving

[20:05] relationship [20:07] Your obedience is not just some rote [20:11] Checklist that you go down. Okay. I’m doing good here here here here and here. Okay. God’s good with me [20:17] It’s not that type of obedience because in life [20:19] We don’t like those types of relationships that is kind of like the boss-employee [20:24] Relationship and that is not what God is calling us into that’s where you just do enough to keep your job

[20:31] If your relationship with God is like that then your relationship with God is off-base your relationship with God’s not real [20:38] It’s not legit [20:40] Relationship with God is not the boss-employee relationship the relationship with God is a loving caring [20:46] Relationship where we know that he has sent his son and sacrificed him [20:51] He loves us so much so that even in our rebellion [20:54] He sends his son to die on the cross for us so that we can be redeemed to him

[21:00] That is more than a boss would do for you [21:02] That is what a loving father will do for you [21:05] So you begin to see him as the father that loves you so much so that he would rather [21:09] Sacrifice his own life in order that you could be in a relationship with him [21:15] So when you come out on the other side, it’s a reconciled relationship [21:21] Where at one time you were completely at odds because there was an offense in your relationship and the offense was your sin

[21:28] But now you’ve been brought back together because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ [21:32] and now you walk hand in hand in life with a God that you knows loves you to the point where I’ll [21:37] Sacrifice his own life and you strive to walk down the same path that he is on and [21:43] That is what produces obedience in a follower of Jesus

[21:50] It’s flowing out of your love for him [21:54] If we deny our sin, we can’t know God, but if we continue in our sin, we also [22:00] Cannot know God it’s not an effort to get him to love me more to forgive me more [22:05] It is an effort to live in awe and be [22:08] Captivated by the beauty of who he is and all that he has done and is doing to move the world to bring him more glory [22:15] This is the work of the Christian life

[22:20] It is you falling more and more in love with who God is for you [22:27] It is you being more and more [22:30] overtaken by the reality of the fact that Jesus came and loved you and gave his very [22:37] life for you [22:41] Then he tells us in verse 6 [22:44] He says whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked

[22:52] For reference John tells us to look to the life of Jesus [22:58] So we’re not just told [23:01] obey God [23:03] However, that looks to you obey God however that seems fit for you obey God [23:09] No [23:09] He tells us the only way that you can have any hope of coming into an

[23:15] Understanding of what it means to live a life and obedience to God’s commands is to reference my first book [23:21] Yeah, you ever like here an author say that go buy my first book then you’ll understand the second book [23:25] But he’s telling us to do that because that is where he recorded the life and times of Jesus [23:32] Was in the gospel according to John but then he also [23:36] References a specific chapter in that book when he uses the term abide he’s referencing John chapter 15 [23:43] When Jesus says abide in me and I will abide in you

[23:48] And if you abide in me your life will begin to bear fruit of my righteousness [23:55] So if we know Jesus we are going to be drawn into who he is and we will live our life in [24:01] Connection to him in which we begin to desire nothing more than to be constantly eternally [24:08] Connected to him in a loving [24:11] relationship

[24:14] Number two this morning obedience to God then comes through grace driven effort [24:21] It’s an interesting phrase that can become very subjective very quickly grace driven effort [24:28] Theologian a scholar da Carson first penned to that phrase when he’s writing of the reality that human beings [24:34] If we’re gonna follow God if we’re gonna obey God we do not naturally drift [24:40] Towards holiness we do not naturally drift [24:44] Towards God we naturally drift towards sin we naturally drift towards

[24:49] Selfishness we naturally drift towards living a self-centered life [24:53] Where we are the only benefactor of our actions we are the only benefactor of anything that we do [24:59] And he’s saying that’s our default mode [25:01] That’s what we’re gonna drift towards [25:02] But he’s saying that the gospel will produce inside of us a grace driven effort in which we’re falling more in love with God [25:10] So we are beginning to be driven by his love to obey him, but that’s not oftentimes how we see it

[25:18] We have this big misunderstanding [25:20] Understanding of what grace is and that grace is the lack of effort [25:26] It means that my life and my relationship with God is totally on him [25:31] And I’m just gonna sit here and wait for maybe the Holy Spirit to to bring a wind and it blows me into [25:37] Obedience and I don’t have any responsibility in obeying God because it’s all of grace right [25:42] It’s all about him right. I don’t actually do anything, but life doesn’t work that way

[25:47] No part of life works that way if you’re hungry and you want a sandwich will it just appear in front of you? [25:55] No [25:55] No, if you want to make a good one, you’ll go into the kitchen [25:58] You’ll get some whole wheat you’ll get some golden spicy brown mustard [26:02] And you’ll lather it up real good on both pieces of bread folks [26:06] Not just one side you got to get the whole bite in there because it’s really good

[26:11] And then you get some good smoked turkey and you’ll get some some some cheese [26:15] And you’ll just have a great sandwich, but here’s the reality somebody’s got to make the sandwich [26:22] All right, so my it’s my he’s gonna put forth an intentional effort and get that knife out and spread that mustard [26:28] And it’s probably gonna be you if you want the sandwich

[26:35] But our relationship with God

[26:39] Also will take effort and give me a few minutes. I’m gonna unpack what that means [26:45] Look in verse 7 [26:49] Beloved I am writing you no new commandment [26:52] But an old commandment that you had from the beginning the old commandment is the word that you have heard [26:59] Verse 8 at the same time it is a new commandment that I am writing to you [27:05] Which is true in him and in you

[27:08] Hold on a second [27:10] John just has a glaring contradiction, doesn’t he?

[27:15] It’s not new but it’s new

[27:19] That’s a clear-cut case John just contradicted himself so what in the world does that even mean all right? [27:25] Let’s unpack that for a few moments, and I and I think I can help you with that all right [27:30] if we understand [27:33] What he means by I’m not giving you a new commandment what he’s saying is is that the word of God has always [27:40] Had the same force for your life [27:43] The word of God has always made a command of your life and that command has never changed

[27:49] You were to live your life for God and you were to live your life loving others all right [27:54] Isn’t that what Jesus said let’s look at Luke chapter 10 verse 27. Here’s what Jesus said [27:59] He answers those who are asking you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all [28:04] Your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. This is a great commandment [28:09] So if I were to come to you and you’ve spent somebody that’s been in church [28:12] You know anything about the Bible, and I’m like what does God command of you

[28:14] You’re probably gonna shoot that right back at me, and you should because that’s what Jesus said [28:19] So we’re like okay ten commandments is out if I just do good on that [28:22] But the reality is is he’s summing up the first four commandments and the love God part [28:26] And then he’s summing up the next six commandments and the love your neighbor as yourself part [28:31] All right, but here’s the reality is what we want to do is we want to say Jesus gives us something brand new man [28:37] He’s blowing everybody’s mind. He’s like doing away with the Old Testament. No. He’s just quoting the Old Testament all right look in Deuteronomy

[28:44] Chapter 6 verse 5 here’s what he says he says Moses writing you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with [28:50] All your soul and with all your might [28:53] Okay, so it must be the neighbor part [28:55] That’s where Jesus is giving us a paradigm shift in the Old Testament God doesn’t even like people all right [29:02] No Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18 you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people [29:10] Look at this, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself

[29:14] I’m the Lord [29:16] So Jesus when he comes he’s not bringing a new commandment [29:22] He’s quoting the Old Testament over and over again to people [29:26] He brings an old [29:29] Commandment so it’s not new so John saying the same thing this isn’t old excuse me. This isn’t new

[29:37] God [29:38] Wanted that then he still wants it [29:42] He wants you to obey him, so what does John mean? [29:46] When he says but I do bring you a new commandment is he just trying to confuse us for the sake of confusing us [29:54] Maybe you think that but he’s not okay note what Jesus says [29:59] in John 13 34

[30:02] Jesus also uses the phrase [30:05] New commandment and the term for new is very important [30:09] Understand these aren’t different Greek words. He’s the same Greek word [30:13] Jesus says a new commandment. I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you [30:18] You also are to love one another [30:21] Here’s the reality here’s what’s new okay?

[30:25] Who would they’ve never seen before they’ve never known how to do this before it’s found in the phrase [30:32] Just as I have loved you [30:38] up until [30:40] Jesus came [30:42] They had never seen God in the flesh [30:45] They had never had a literal

[30:49] Basis to look at what God would do if he was a human being [30:56] They’d never seen God [30:58] literally physically practically love other people [31:03] Nor had they ever known the depths of their sin [31:08] According to God until they saw the very Son of God die on the cross for the sins of humanity [31:16] They’d never known that they’d never known the power of God and the glory of his resurrection and the reality that God is has the power

[31:25] Oversin but also over death and death does not have to have dominion, but God can defeat death [31:31] They’ve never seen that before they never known that reality before [31:35] It’s a John says I’m giving you a new commandment because Jesus said I’m giving you a new commandment [31:41] Because I’m living it out for you [31:47] There’s a few things that this means number one. It’s a new commandment because of Jesus [31:54] fulfilling the law

[31:56] Jesus says in Matthew that he came not to abolish the law but to completely [32:01] fulfill the law by his living a [32:05] Completely perfect life and then dying a substitutionary death for all who would believe [32:11] Jesus fulfills it completely [32:15] Jesus also [32:17] Comes in bringing a new command because of his wonderful grace

[32:21] his [32:23] undeserved love his undeserved [32:26] Redemption for us and what that means is profound [32:29] It means that none of the laws of the Old Testament [32:34] Can condemn you any longer if you have faith in Jesus [32:38] The book of Galatians says that the purpose of the law was not

[32:43] So that we could earn our own redemption with God if it was for that it would have been a brutal failure [32:50] Because no one has ever obeyed God completely [32:54] Save God himself and the personal work of Jesus Christ [32:58] And so what Jesus does is is he abolishes the condemnation of the law not the letter of the commandments [33:07] So he comes and he does away with it completely [33:11] No longer do I look at the Ten Commandments and see how short I fall and fear that God will condemn me forever

[33:19] No [33:19] I look to them and I see his commandments that I broke that drove Jesus to the cross who redeemed me from the condemnation [33:27] That that law broke [33:29] It excuse me. It is new because the law can no longer condemn if your faith is in Jesus [33:37] And what this does is amazing it changes [33:43] obedience from a burden to a passion

[33:48] This part of the book of first John is really serving as a preface and introduction [33:53] For the next two chapters where he’s just gonna continue to show darkness and light [33:59] Commandments and disobedience he’s going to continue to shine that light on us so that we will have complete assurance of our salvation [34:06] But then in first John chapter 5 verses 3 and 4 he says this [34:11] For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not [34:20] burdensome for everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith

[34:28] Note that he says in there that the commandments of God are no longer burdensome

[34:36] That’s an important indicator to look at in your life

[34:41] Said one was do you want to obey God, but I want to ask you another question [34:46] Do you find the commandments of God burdensome?

[34:53] Do you look at your life and say God wants me to do that do that

[34:59] That’s a burden [35:01] My heart is not in obeying him my heart is somewhere else [35:05] I would so much rather do this, but if he’s gonna kill me and send me to hell I guess I’ll obey him

[35:14] Friends that is not the thought process of a follower of Jesus

[35:21] John writes that Jesus removes [35:24] the burden of his commandments because if you’re a follower of Jesus [35:30] the condemnation is gone [35:33] It doesn’t serve as a [35:36] Condemning force in my life any longer it serves as a roadmap as to how my love and [35:43] Relationship with God can grow just like I grow in relationships with other people

[35:50] It’s through cohesive unity that we grow in our relationships with others. Well your relationship with God is no different [35:57] If you have a loving reconciled relationship with God in your heart you will want the same things that he wants

[36:07] But if you don’t want that which he wants [36:10] You’re not following him [36:13] The reality is is that he gives us the commands and he gives us Jesus and he gives us these indicators [36:18] Because it may just start as a spark

[36:23] But then as you walk down his path with him that spark of desire to please him that [36:31] Spark of desire to love him and obey him will grow into a fire [36:37] It will grow into a passion [36:39] It will grow into the greatest desire that you have is to obey him no matter what [36:46] He requests no matter what he calls you to no matter what he wants [36:51] Because there’s no greater joy in your life than loving obeying and

[36:57] Following the God of the universe who loves you to the point that he killed his own son to have you [37:04] And then gave you power through his son through the resurrection

[37:10] What is new is the phrase just as I have loved you and that will change your life forever [37:17] Our effort then is to follow Jesus and faith and love [37:23] The goal is this that Christ would become more beautiful and [37:30] Desirable than the allure of sin [37:35] But what is sin is what we then must ask ourselves [37:39] Sin is anything in life

[37:44] That takes away from the glory of God

[37:49] Sin is anything in life that is not done for Jesus [37:57] When we live in our lives growing in relationship with him we begin to learn what obedience looks like

[38:07] It isn’t in earning his love [38:09] It’s growing in my love for him because when he begins to shine the light of [38:15] His glory into my life that light of redemption that exposes the darkness of my sin I [38:23] Begin to learn more and more about him. That’s what his word is for that’s what the life of Jesus is about [38:29] It’s because he doesn’t want to be the unknown God. He wants to be the known God [38:33] He wants to draw us into a relationship with him

[38:36] And so his light of glory that we talked about a couple of weeks ago [38:39] Begins to shine and as I follow him and as I grow in my knowledge of him that light is going to expose [38:46] more darkness in me than I ever knew that I had and

[38:52] So what I do is is I grow J. I packer says in my knowledge of him as well as in my knowledge of myself [38:59] And when I begin to see that darkness [39:02] I begin to repent more and more so that I can be closer and closer to him [39:08] Because the greatest thing in my life is a relationship with him

[39:13] What does this new obedience look like though does he get specific yes [39:20] But it’s very interesting the phrasing that John uses because he uses an example that we probably wouldn’t start with [39:26] But God in his wisdom does

[39:32] Look in [39:33] Verse 9 [39:35] Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness [39:43] Whoever loves his brother [39:45] Abides in the light and in him there is no cause for stumbling [39:48] But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness

[39:54] Has blinded his eyes [39:56] He begins by telling us that if we’re following God we will not be filled with hate [40:02] It’s very interesting that he would start there [40:05] Because that is the path that God is on and it’s so [40:11] Counterintuitive to us because it’s a path that we need to get on but we may not already be on [40:16] What he’s saying is that the gospel is the only real love that exists

[40:23] The analogy of light and darkness is now turned to show the difference between love and hate [40:28] Hate exists because of sin therefore if we live in the light of Jesus we seek to divorce ourselves [40:35] Away from hate we don’t have to hate and in the light of the gospel can’t hate anyone and love God [40:42] If we’re on the same path that God is on we understand that through Jesus God shows that he loves everyone [40:50] That’s what the cross shows it shows that God’s mission his purpose for eternity is to throw his love on people [40:59] And redeem them to himself through the work that Jesus did on the cross

[41:04] So if you get on that trajectory if you begin to obey him and walk in his path [41:09] You will have the very same mission that he has and it will make you incapable of having hate because [41:16] The reason for this is that the gospel gives us real grounds for forgiveness which abolishes hate [41:22] When we are wronged we can forgive because we believe that Jesus took that wrong to the cross and paid the penalty [41:29] The gospel is the only real forgiveness that exists because it is real absolute [41:36] justice for sin

[41:39] And when we join him on his path we have a real [41:44] Legitimate definition for what love is [41:49] He starts with love because later in the book we’re going to see that God identifies himself as love [41:57] But here’s where the word love becomes very tricky [42:01] we live in a culture that would define love as [42:06] Accepting and affirming

[42:10] Everything anyone does [42:14] They have this belief mine’s completely different love means we accept and affirm both as equally valid [42:22] They have this sin I may think it’s sin, but I have to accept and affirm that sin because that’s what love is [42:30] If that’s what love is and the cross would have been unnecessary [42:34] If you want to understand the full weight of how God views sin look at what sin cost [42:42] Cost the life of the Son of God so love is not acceptance and affirmation of everything

[42:52] Love is [42:55] pointing people always to the cross [42:59] Love always produces action to get people to the cross [43:05] the sacrifice of Jesus was [43:07] Necessary because he is the definer of love and in our sin [43:13] We have changed that definition in order to make us more comfortable in the sin that robs

[43:20] God of his glory and in lifestyles that go completely away from him and will leave us [43:28] inevitably on the road to perdition

[43:34] His cross is a mile marker saying this is love and there is no other [43:41] So the cross shines light into the darkness and when we are living that light [43:48] We become beacons to point people to the cross of Jesus Christ [43:54] Therefore to accept and affirm all that scripture would say is sinful simply is [44:02] Unloving [44:03] to love people we must have a vision of the cross in our lives and

[44:11] Be willing to love people in their sin while pointing those people to the cross because of their sin [44:18] Love is only found then in [44:22] legitimate faith [44:24] The only way then to know that you don’t hate

[44:29] Is seeking others joy in Jesus [44:33] He starts at the foundation of love for our faith to be legitimate [44:38] And so we must then begin to ask ourselves. What does it mean to hate? [44:43] Well to hate means to live your life in anything other than pointing people to the cross of Jesus Christ because in that and that [44:49] Alone is where love is found [44:51] We must

[44:53] Rearrange our lives to ensure we are seeking others joy in Jesus to ensure our own obedience [45:00] Jesus stands as the example of love because his love is proven in the cross of redemption [45:06] He went all the way because of his love to claim love and not build your life around the cross is [45:14] antithetical

[45:17] If you claim you love people yet you are building a life that only benefits you

[45:26] If you’re building a life in which the cross and your love for Jesus will not be glaringly obvious in all ways [45:34] Then you cannot claim to love others because love is only found in the cross [45:40] And if love is only found in the cross then all of your actions all of your life all of your decisions [45:47] All of your careers all of your families all of your marriages everything that you build in your life [45:55] Will be pointed and find its purpose in the cross of Jesus Christ [46:03] Love is found in the life of joy

[46:07] Our efforts will be defined by our faith in him and our life will be spent on what we know is real love

[46:16] Friends of you have never questioned

[46:22] Whether your career [46:24] Points people to the cross of Jesus Christ you have not dealt with the love of God I [46:31] Didn’t say you would change your career said you question it will question our career for a whole lot of things

[46:41] But how it pushes the love of Jesus Christ forward is rarely one of them

[46:49] If we’re going to know him if we’re going to know if we’re obeying his commandments if we’re going to know [46:56] That we are in the love of Jesus Christ and living in his light we must begin to ask those questions

[47:06] To know Jesus is to know love as a band comes forward on a [47:17] Transition into a time of inventory [47:21] Transition into a time where we begin to look into our lives [47:25] I warned you at the beginning of this series that it would be a hard one

[47:29] The book of first John makes us ask questions that we don’t want to ask it [47:35] Confronts us with some things and we don’t want to be confronted with and I’m right there with you

[47:43] But what we must look at when we look at our lives is how is the cross of Jesus changing us [47:50] How is it growing us are we falling more and more in love with him?

[47:59] Or are we just drifting

[48:03] Towards unholiness are we just drifting towards self centeredness

[48:12] When we look at others [48:14] Do we have a cross? [48:16] Centered vision or is something else in your vision

[48:26] If it’s anything other than the cross it’s a vision for your life [48:31] Do you know him? [48:34] Do you know him?

[48:37] Here at village we every week partake of the Lord’s Supper [48:42] Cup represents his shed blood [48:46] The bread represents his broken body

[48:50] You’re either in a place right now where you’re looking at it, and you’re like I don’t even know if I want to obey him

[48:58] Friend don’t carry that through life [49:01] Be liberated by the cross of Jesus Christ today

[49:05] It’s not about do more and try harder

[49:09] It’s about loving Jesus with everything that you’ve got in your life and wanting a relationship with him [49:15] Or maybe you’re in here, and you know him, but you’re looking at it, and you’re saying I got that drift [49:20] I’m not intentional my effort isn’t about his love my efforts about a bunch of other things [49:28] John wrote this to right the ship

[49:32] If God’s exposing a dark place in your life right now [49:36] You have a couple of choices you can try to cover it up and deny that it exists [49:42] True sign in you [49:45] You can say I don’t need to obey him. I don’t need to change truth sign in you [49:52] Or you can say thank you God for exposing this place where you want to give me more joy than I think I need

[50:01] and [50:01] repent of [50:03] your sin and [50:05] Grow closer in your relationship with Jesus because he’s got more joy for you [50:10] He will never take anything away from you that he does not have more joy to replace it with I [50:17] Promise you that because he promises us that in his word

[50:24] The choice is yours

[50:28] If you want to know him I’d love to share the gospel with you and you can receive Christ today [50:36] For those of you that are followers when you’re ready

[50:40] You