Living in the Light: Embracing True Gospel Love
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Crossland Community Church, a place of refuge and hope for all people. Today, we continue our series on 1 John, focusing on the tensions John presents in his letter. John addresses the infiltration of Gnosticism into the church, a worldview that emphasizes mystical, elite experiences over the observable and measurable evidence of faith. This redefinition of the gospel to justify poor choices is still prevalent today. John argues that both self-righteous moralism and licentious living are incorrect interpretations of the gospel. True freedom in Christ comes with responsibilities, and living in the equilibrium of the gospel is essential.
John emphasizes that salvation is not an unsolved mystery but a reality backed by evidence. He introduces the concept of an advocate, Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us when we sin. This advocate is not just a legal representative but also the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world. This dual role of Jesus ensures that God is no longer angry with humanity, and we are called to live in this reality.
John provides a test to know if we truly know Christ: keeping His commands. This involves both avoiding sins of commission and actively engaging in good deeds, reflecting Christ's life. The evidence of our faith is seen in our actions, not just mystical experiences. John also introduces a new yet old command: to love one another as Christ loved us. This love is the ultimate evidence of our faith and is expressed in practical ways, such as serving others and showing compassion.
However, John also warns against loving the world and its desires. This creates a tension for believers, as we are called to love people but not the sinful aspects of the world. The love of God has limits, and we must navigate this tension by holding firm to the gospel. Ultimately, living like Christ means loving like Christ, avoiding both hate and indifference, and actively participating in the light of His love.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Reality of Salvation: Salvation is not a mystical, unsolved mystery but a reality backed by observable and measurable evidence. John emphasizes that our relationship with Christ should be evident in our actions and lifestyle. This evidence is not just about avoiding sin but actively living out Christ's teachings. [32:26]
2. The Role of Jesus as Advocate and Atoning Sacrifice: Jesus serves as our advocate and atoning sacrifice, ensuring that God is no longer angry with humanity. This dual role means that when we sin, we can confidently confess and be forgiven, knowing that Jesus intercedes on our behalf. This understanding should compel us to live in the light and avoid both licentiousness and self-righteousness. [35:14]
3. Evidence of Knowing Christ: The true test of knowing Christ is keeping His commands, which involves both avoiding sins of commission and engaging in good deeds. This means living a life that reflects Christ's character, showing integrity, compassion, and love in all our actions. [39:29]
4. The Command to Love: John reiterates the command to love one another as Christ loved us. This love is the ultimate evidence of our faith and is expressed in practical ways, such as serving others, showing compassion, and actively participating in the community. This love is not just an emotion but a verb, requiring active engagement. [47:26]
5. Navigating the Tension of Love and Worldliness: While we are called to love people, we must also recognize the limits of this love when it comes to the sinful aspects of the world. John warns against loving the world and its desires, emphasizing that true love for God involves rejecting sinful behaviors and attitudes. This creates a tension that believers must navigate by holding firm to the gospel. [01:00:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[26:10] - Introduction to 1 John
[26:49] - Gnosticism in the Church
[27:24] - Redefining the Gospel
[28:24] - Freedom in Christ
[28:59] - Unsolved Mysteries
[30:06] - Evaluating Evidence
[32:26] - Reality of Salvation
[33:43] - Living and Loving Like Christ
[34:24] - The Role of Jesus as Advocate
[35:14] - Confession and Forgiveness
[39:29] - Evidence of Knowing Christ
[47:26] - The Command to Love
[50:54] - Love and Hate
[01:00:41] - Limits of Love
[01:06:18] - Living in the Light
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 John 2:1-2 (NIV): "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
2. John 13:34-35 (NIV): "A new command I give 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."
3. Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV): "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John mean when he says Jesus is our "advocate" and "atoning sacrifice"? ([34:24])
2. According to the sermon, what are the two incorrect interpretations of the gospel that John addresses? ([27:54])
3. How does John describe the evidence of truly knowing Christ? ([39:29])
4. What is the "new yet old" command that John emphasizes, and how is it supposed to be demonstrated? ([47:26])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the role of Jesus as our advocate and atoning sacrifice influence a believer's approach to sin and confession? ([35:14])
2. What are the practical implications of living in the "equilibrium of the gospel" as described in the sermon? ([28:24])
3. How does John’s command to love one another as Christ loved us challenge common perceptions of love in today's society? ([47:26])
4. What does it mean to navigate the tension between loving people and rejecting the sinful aspects of the world? ([01:00:41])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you had to confess a sin. How did understanding Jesus as your advocate help you in that moment? ([35:14])
2. Think about your daily actions. How can you better reflect Christ's character in both avoiding sins of commission and engaging in good deeds? ([39:29])
3. Identify a specific way you can show love to someone in your community this week. How can you make this love practical and not just emotional? ([47:26])
4. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself loving the world more than God? How can you realign your priorities to reflect true love for God? ([01:00:41])
5. How do you handle feelings of hate or indifference towards others, especially those who are different from you? What steps can you take to actively love them as Christ commands? ([50:54])
6. In what ways can you balance holding firm to the gospel while engaging with a world that often contradicts it? Share a specific example from your life. ([01:00:41])
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to live and love like Christ? What practical steps can you take together to support each other in this journey? ([33:43])
Devotional
Day 1: The Reality of Salvation
Salvation is not a mystical, unsolved mystery but a reality backed by observable and measurable evidence. John emphasizes that our relationship with Christ should be evident in our actions and lifestyle. This evidence is not just about avoiding sin but actively living out Christ's teachings. The observable evidence of our faith is seen in our daily choices, our interactions with others, and our commitment to living a life that reflects Christ's character. This means that our faith should be tangible and visible, not just a private, internal experience.
John's letter challenges us to evaluate our lives and see if they align with the teachings of Christ. Are we living in a way that shows we truly know Him? This involves both avoiding sinful behaviors and actively engaging in good deeds. Our faith should be evident in our compassion, integrity, and love for others. This is the reality of salvation—it's a lived experience that others can see and be inspired by. [32:26]
1 John 2:3-4 (ESV): "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
Reflection: Think about your daily actions and interactions. How can you make your faith more visible to those around you today?
Day 2: The Role of Jesus as Advocate and Atoning Sacrifice
Jesus serves as our advocate and atoning sacrifice, ensuring that God is no longer angry with humanity. This dual role means that when we sin, we can confidently confess and be forgiven, knowing that Jesus intercedes on our behalf. This understanding should compel us to live in the light and avoid both licentiousness and self-righteousness. Jesus' advocacy is not just a legal formality; it is a profound expression of His love and commitment to us.
Knowing that Jesus is our advocate should give us confidence and peace. We are not left to deal with our sins alone. When we fall short, we can turn to Him, confess, and be assured of His forgiveness. This should motivate us to strive for a life that honors Him, avoiding the extremes of moralism and licentiousness. We are called to live in the balance of grace and truth, reflecting the character of Christ in all we do. [35:14]
1 John 2:1-2 (ESV): "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent sin you have committed. How can you bring this to Jesus in confession and embrace His forgiveness today?
Day 3: Evidence of Knowing Christ
The true test of knowing Christ is keeping His commands, which involves both avoiding sins of commission and engaging in good deeds. This means living a life that reflects Christ's character, showing integrity, compassion, and love in all our actions. Our faith is not just about what we avoid but also about what we actively pursue. We are called to be proactive in our faith, seeking opportunities to do good and serve others.
John's letter challenges us to examine our lives and see if they reflect the teachings of Christ. Are we living in a way that shows we truly know Him? This involves both avoiding sinful behaviors and actively engaging in good deeds. Our faith should be evident in our compassion, integrity, and love for others. This is the evidence of knowing Christ—it's a lived experience that others can see and be inspired by. [39:29]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Identify one specific command of Christ that you struggle to keep. What practical steps can you take today to better align your actions with this command?
Day 4: The Command to Love
John reiterates the command to love one another as Christ loved us. This love is the ultimate evidence of our faith and is expressed in practical ways, such as serving others, showing compassion, and actively participating in the community. This love is not just an emotion but a verb, requiring active engagement. True Christian love is sacrificial and selfless, mirroring the love Christ showed us.
Loving others as Christ loved us means going beyond mere words and feelings. It involves tangible actions that demonstrate our care and concern for others. This could be through acts of service, offering a listening ear, or providing for someone's needs. Our love should be evident in the way we treat others, reflecting the unconditional love of Christ. [47:26]
1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Think of one person in your life who needs to experience Christ's love. What specific action can you take today to show them this love?
Day 5: Navigating the Tension of Love and Worldliness
While we are called to love people, we must also recognize the limits of this love when it comes to the sinful aspects of the world. John warns against loving the world and its desires, emphasizing that true love for God involves rejecting sinful behaviors and attitudes. This creates a tension that believers must navigate by holding firm to the gospel. We are to love people but not the sinful systems and values of the world.
This tension requires discernment and wisdom. We must be in the world but not of it, loving people without compromising our values. This means being aware of the influences around us and making conscious choices to align our lives with God's will. Our love for God should be the guiding principle in how we interact with the world, ensuring that we do not conform to its sinful patterns. [01:00:41]
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Reflection: Identify one worldly desire or behavior that you struggle with. How can you take a step today to reject this and align more closely with God's will?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "There is freedom in Christ, okay? And that freedom comes with responsibilities though, right? If you love me, you obey me, alright? So it's a beautiful tension that God, that really was God, that John creates in his first chapter." [28:24] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You can know that you know him if you live and love like he lived and loved. That's it. You know that you know when you live and love like he lived and you love like he loved. That's how you know." [33:18] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The gospel does not have prerequisites, okay, you're in. But it does have expectations. And what the reason John's writing this is not for you, for me or it to judge you. It's for you to find comfort for and judge yourself." [32:51] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When Christ died, he died for everybody's sins. Hell will be literally populated with forgiven people. That's the tragedy, is that Jesus says you stand condemned because you don't believe, not because you misbehaved." [36:37] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You don't got to walk on water. You don't got to feed 5,000. You don't got to... Listen, if you do, please film it and YouTube it because then I'll believe you. You know what I'm saying? It's not as complicated as we make it out to be. This new command is simply to love your neighbor as yourself." [50:08] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "People were beginning to submit to their leadership in the church. And all they were really doing was redefining the gospel so they could justify their poor choices. And that goes on to this day, okay? People want to redefine the gospel in order to live the way they want to live." [27:24] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you sin, confess your sins because God is faithful and just and will forgive you of those sins. So he's concluding the whole first chapter by saying, listen dude, I don't want you to sin. But if you do, you have an advocate." [34:53] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You have a legal representative. And here's the good news. He's in heaven. He's seated at the right hand of the Father. That's why it's compelling for you to confess your sin. For when Greg sins, often, what I have to do is agree with God I've just sinned." [35:14] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You don't get to hate anybody. Anybody that looks different than you, talks different than you, lives different than you, it is off the table. It is not an option for a follower. Now, I'm going to show you where the tension comes at the end, so hang on there, okay?" [51:57] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "How much do we believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ? How much do we believe that it gave God pleasure to crush His one and only Son for our iniquities? How much do we believe that He who knew no sin became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God?" [56:14] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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