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Be Real The Pretenders. I John 3:1-10. Contrast between counterfeit Christians - “children of the devil (I John 3:10) and God’s children True child of God practices righteousness and loves the brethren despite the differences I John 1-2 deals with the fellowship
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Be RealThe Pretenders I John 3:1-10
Contrast between counterfeit Christians - “children of the devil (I John 3:10) and God’s children • True child of God practices righteousness and loves the brethren despite the differences • I John 1-2 deals with the fellowship • I John 3-5 deals with the sonship due to being “born of God” • To practice sin is to sin consistently and as a way of life • Not an occasional sin • Abraham who lies (Gen 12: 10-20) • Moses lost his temper (Num 20:7-13)
Peter who denied Jesus (Matt 26: 69-75) • Unsaved lives a life of habitual sin • True Christian knows God while the counterfeit Christian may talk about God and get involved in religious activities • Reasons for holy life • God the Father loves us (3:1-3) • God’s love for us is unique • Salvation begins with God’s love • I John 3:1 tells what we are while 3:2 tells what we shall be • God’s love continues throughout our life & to the return of Jesus Christ • I John tells us what we should be
Relating to Christ’s return we should keep our lives clean • Salvation is the expression of God’s love • The unbeliever sins against the law while the Christian sin against love • Unbeliever sins against the Creator while the believer sins as a child against the Father • “The fear of the Lord” – not living in terror, but holding God in awe & reverence & not deliberately disobey God • God the Son died for us (3:4-8) • Christ appeared to take away our sins (4-6) • Sins • “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom 14:23 • “The thought of foolishness is sin” Prov 24:9 • “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin James 4:17
“All unrighteousness is sin” I John 5:17 • Sin as lawlessness I John 3:4 • Sin as defilement I John 1:9-2:2 • Sin as defiance I John 3:4-6 • Emphasis on sin, not sins • Sins are the fruit, sin is the root • God’s love • “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (I John 2:3) • “And whatsoever we ask of him, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (I John 3:22) • “By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments” (I John 5:2) • God’s children are free (Gal 5:1-6) and not to be lawless (I Cor 9:21)
Sin is the mater of will; rebellion is the root of sin • Abide in Him: identification with Him who is sinless • In fellowship with Jesus • Sonship brings union while fellowship makes communion with Jesus possible • “Whosoever abideth in him” does not practice sin (3:6) • God the Holy Spirit lives in us (3:9-10) • “Whosoever is born of God does not practice sin” • Believer has a new nature within him • New standing: being acceptable as righteous in God’s sight which is justification • New position: being set apart for God’s purpose to live for His glory which is sanctification
New nature by trusting Jesus and experiencing a new birth (5:1) • “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23) • Spiritual parents: Word of God and the Holy Spirit • Saved by faith (Eph 2:8-9) • Faith by hearing (Rom 10:17) • Christian has an old nature & new nature • Old nature New nature • “our old man” (Rom 6:6) “the new man” (Col 3:10) • “the flesh” (Gal 5:24) “the Spirit” (Gal 5:17) • “corruptible seed” “God’s seed (I John 3:9) (I Peter 1:23) • The old nature produces sin, while the new nature lead the person to a holy life
Needs for both physical and spiritual • Food (Matt 4:4; Rom 13:14)) • Cleansing (James 1:22-25; I John 1:9) • Unconfessed sin, first step in backsliding • Invasion, yield, infection, gradual decline, loss of appetite for spiritual things, lack of energy and interest, irritable, & finally collapse • Remedy: confess & forsake and turn to Christ for cleansing & healing • Exercise (I Tim 4:7); “exercise thyself… unto godliness” • Balance • Inclusion of sharing Jesus with others, doing good works, & helping to build other Christians • Temptations: “carried away” & “enticed” (James 1:14)
Yielding to sin: the mark of the children of the devil • Deceiving God’s children thinking that a person can a Christian and practice sin (3:7) • Old nature is not the body; the body is neutral (Rom 6:12-13) • How to overcome the desires of the old nature? • Yield his body each day to God • Spending time in reading and studying God’s Word • Taking time to pray • Depending on the power of the Holy Spirit in the inner man • If sinning, confess to God for forgiveness • Claiming God promise: There hath no temptaton taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it>
Sunday School teacher on two Adams • Look at 5 questions on page 118 and answer honestly