Sunday Livestream | 1 John 2:12-14 | Assurance for the Saved

You see for John, a Christian is not just a person who says they are, it is one who shows that they are. The litmus tests that he administers throughout this letter are meant to show us that we're truly saved And those tests are this, right doctrine of Christ, righteous living like Christ, and radical loving one another like Christ. All three are meant to give us assurance, give assurance to the saved. This letter needs to be preached today. [00:53:33] (35 seconds)  #FaithThatShows

There are only two types of children in the world. Those who are children of God and those who are children of the devil. And here in chapter two, he's telling us children of God have their sins forgiven. Those who are his children have the blessing that Paul talks about in Ephesians one. Ephesians one three, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who's blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. And then one of those spiritual blessings he has blessed us with is Ephesians one seven, in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. [01:04:30] (48 seconds)  #TwoKindsOfChildren

Those who are children of God have the spiritual blessing of forgiveness of sins. So if you've been dipping these tests into the waters of your life and God has been revealing to you right doctrine of Christ, righteous living like Christ, and radical loving like Christ. John's saying, be assured little children, we who were spiritually dead in our sins separated from the Lord because of our sins, spiritually doomed because of our sins, we've been forgiven. All of them. The debts been paid. You and I have been set free from the penalty of sin. Our sins are forgiven. [01:05:19] (40 seconds)  #DebtsPaidFreedom

Christians have not just been forgiven of our sins having been freed from the punishment of it, we've been set free from the power of sin. You and I can overcome the world. And don't forget this verse because next week we're going to look at verses 15 through 17 where he says, do not love the world or the things of the world. And then he describes what a love What the world for us, it's desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes and the pride of life. As overcomers, John is telling us through Christ we died to the power of sin and we can overcome the desires of our flesh. [01:16:31] (37 seconds)  #OvercomeTheWorld

Christian can never say I can't stop this sin. If you can't stop that sin then you are not a Christian because you have the power of the one who's overcome sin. His spirit lives in you. You have the ability to put to death sin in your life. You're an overcomer if you're truly a Christian. True Christians have died to the power of sin, they can overcome the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, and this is only possible through Christ. [01:17:09] (37 seconds)  #VictoryOverSin

You don't have to answer that out loud, but how have you done on the test? We've taken a test of right doctrine of Christ. We've taken tests of righteous living like Christ. We, last Sunday, took a test of radical loving one another like Christ. So how have you done? Have you been passing them? I can say with certainty that I know a number of you have. I have over the years heard the right doctrine of Christ for many of you. I have seen your righteous living like Christ and I have enjoyed experienced your radical loving one another like Christ. I know that many of you have passed the test. [00:55:48] (41 seconds)  #PassingTheFaithTests

It's because he knows when a person places their faith in Christ, they become a child of God. There are only two types of children in the world today and John knows this. John himself said, by this it is evidence who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. And then he gives a litmus test. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is the one who does not love his brother. Applying a test again, But as he's applying it in chapter three, he points out the obvious. There are only two types of children in the world. [01:03:49] (45 seconds)  #RighteousnessAndLove

If you've been with us since March and you've been dipping these tests into your life and wrong doctrine has come out and unrighteous sinful living and unloving attitudes and actions has come out, but you've repented because God has shined light on the darkness in your life and your response has been to repent, confess your sins to the father, turn from them knowing that you have an advocate, one who is the propitiation for your sins. John's like, guess what? Be assured, you know the father. God is your father. You are his child. [01:12:04] (34 seconds)  #RepentKnowTheFather