Special

Okay.

So we're gonna turn in our bibles now to 1 John chapter 2. A little letter from the apostle John to the churches, and therefore to us, and it should come up. We're going from verse 3. 1 John chapter 2 verse 3. We know that we have come to know him 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 word, love for god is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him. Whoever claims to live in him, must live as Jesus did.

Dear friends. I'm not writing to you a new commandment, but an old 1, which you have had since the beginning. This old commandment is the message that you have heard. Yes. I'm writing to you a new command.

It's 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 a sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them that makes 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 read god's word and over to you. Sure. Well, it is, really great to be with you. We're very thankful, for, knowing gospel churches as last year, my wife, I had a sabbatical my wife and I we came to the hub Sunday evening just prior to we're just at the start of my sabbatical and Tom was leading and Tom grabbed me up and just asked how we're doing and we're just able to share that we're on Spaskill and for for the church at Cornerstone to be praying for me and then Trinity Road Chapel. It's just a great joy.

Knowing brothers and sisters, worshiping, in this Southwest part of London. So we're grateful to you for your love and the church and the elders bring their sender greetings to you in the lord. Let's pray as we come to look at this passage. Father god, we pray in us at as we open up your word, whether if familiar or unfamiliar to us might you by your spirit, bring it to impress upon our hearts to evoke a conviction to evoke a change and encouragement and assurance. Whatever it is that lord you know that needs to be done in our hearts today might this word serve that purpose for your glory sake?

And for our good in Jesus' name. Our men. Family likeness. Imagine your family, think of your mums or dads or your brothers and sisters do you ever find that someone comments, you know, you look just like your mom or you look just like your dad? I mean, Pete's had it already this morning with with it, Sue.

1 of your family, but there you go. But in our families, sometimes we can look similar to 1 another. There's a trait. If it's a biological family, there might be some facial features. As an 8 year old boy, I was grieved that everyone said, oh, you look just like your mom.

Well, the last thing you wanna be hearing, ain't it? As an 8 year old boy, that you look like your mom, you wanna look like your dad, don't you? But anyway, there's some familiar features. I mean, if you're adopted into a family and and not of that biological blood line, you still as you grow with, with your family that, you begin to take on similar traits and and you begin to come out with the same catch phrases. I was with my mate Mez, McConnell, just this last week.

They've just adopted a young little lad. And, he's about 5 years old, and he's about the same height as Mez, actually, by now. But, you know, he's he's saying the same things as Mez. Which is disturbing, if you know mez. But, there's a family likeness within our biological or even if we're adopted or or or living with, a grandparent or whatever.

And the first epistle of John basically is trying to help us understand that we are in the family of god. It's a book of assurance. It's a book, a letter that John seeks to assure that you might know. So if you wanted, flick over to 1 John 5 13. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of god so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John wants his readers to have assurance that they know they are in the family of god. And will be certain of eternal life. In other words, this is a crucial knowledge, a crucial thing to know. And in the verses that Pete's just read, John issues 2 very clear evidences. 2 clear evidences that you might know that you're in the family of god.

2 family features, if you like. That would grant you firstly if you're a Christian and assurance. But secondly, a great warning if you're an imposter. He says you can know that you're in the family of god. And he says that you will know by these 2 evidences if you are not and that you are being deceived and you are a liar.

So what are the 2 family likenesses? Well, it's just 2 for now. Firstly, obedience to the father's commands. Family likeness number 1 is obedience to the father's commands. You'll see that in verses 3 to 6.

Now what we gotta do is is is jump in we are jumping in a bit, of course. I wanna say this by, preliminary, really. The way into god's family is through the lord Jesus Christ. Through trusting in him, and John has been making that clear in in chapter 1 verse 7 chapter 1 verse 9 and so on so forth. He makes it crystal clear in the gospel that he's written earlier.

For god so loved the world, that he gave his 1 and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life. John is absolutely crystal clear for the 20 plus chapters of John's gospel as he writes that evangelistic gospel to win souls for Jesus to make sure that you know that you are believing in the lord Jesus Christ and that it's by trusting him in him alone that you are born again. John makes clear that you know that it is through Jesus and through Christ alone that we are in the family of God. What John does in 1 John is give us the evidences for that. Being therefore in the family of god is relational, not religious.

It is look at verse 3. We know 1 John 2 verse 3. We know that we have come to know him. Notice that. We know that we have come to know him.

That is possible. That is desired. That is a a given. You will know if you're in the family of god. You'll enter into the family of god through being born again John would say, Paul would say in ephesians through being adopted into his family.

And here it is. First evidence, you will know that you are in the family of god. You will know if you have eternal life verse 3 if we keep his commands. Here it is. You are obedient to god's word and his commands.

If you are, then you will know that you know him. When I was a car mechanic, we had a a, an apprentice. 1 of our lesser good apprentices might I say. I was born and bred in wheelchair. So if there's a few errant wheelchair sort of accents, then forgive me.

But This bloke, Pete, when he got some at wrong, and we sort of pulled him over to Coles, he go, oh, you don't know what you don't know, who do you? And I'm like, mate, Well, I I won't tell you what I said, but it was just of, a a facade of doing a rotten job. You don't know what you don't know. Pete, you do, and you should. But John in his epistle, and like my Mercedes Benz, come, apprentice, John say, you do know.

You know that you know god. You know that you're in the family of god. There's a family likeness and what is that family likeness? It's obedient to god's commands. Your father's desire is your desire.

His right way of living is is is the thing that guides and shapes your life to his way of living. His commands, his his laws are not burdensome, are not ugly. They are beautiful and you want to, walk in them. This great Psalms, Psalm, 119 says this, praise be to you, lord, teach me your decrees. With my lips, I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes as 1 rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees. I will not neglect your word. All those words, preset decrees, words statutes.

They're all the law of sort of similes for god's commands. The Psalm says, I love them. I rejoice in them. And so the evidence that John gives us at your in the family of god is a desire to obey his word. You need not be deceived.

There is an obvious evidence that you belong to god. Now, the issue here is John Rights is is there's these people saying there's a higher knowledge. There's this higher mystical unknown knowledge that you need to crave for, but John rebukes acts as no. No. God's word.

God's commands. Be obedient to them. This assurance that this relationship is a reality in a person's life. He's not based on feeling. It's not based upon a mere profession of faith, but upon an observable evidence of a continual obedience to his commands.

One's assurance of salvation, and being right with god is not that you've been in church for many, many months, many, many years. Being in church is a great place to be, but it's not your assurance. Your assurance for salvation is not that you have even a role or something to do in church. Your assurance is that you have a continual habitual practice to obedience to god and his word. I think that's what John is saying, isn't it?

Now, of course, we're not talking about perfectionism, are we? We can't be. John stopped when he's writing about this passage in 1 of his books. He he actually quotes John Calvin. He he starts off by saying, if it is objected that in this case, no 1 knows god because no 1 is perfectly obedient, Which is fair.

We know none of us are perfectly obedient. We all fall short, but John, about stop says we may reply with Calvin who was a bloke 500 years ago, who says he does not mean that those who wholly sat at by the law keep his commandments. But those who strive according to the capacity of human infirmity to form their life in obedience to god. I'd want to say it's a trajectory. I would want to say it's a path.

I would want to say you're characterized by this. We for sure. Hey, look, brothers, sisters, We've fallen short, this week, possibly this morning, possibly even in the last few hours. There is forgiveness, isn't there? But here's the thing god's commands are delightful because they come from not a dictator god but from a generous loving father, 1 who created us, 1 who designed us, 1 who knows the real truth.

1 that knows real meaning, 1 that knows how we can have the fullness of life as he gives his good commands that we may walk in them. He's like a father who knows the best for his child. And so he he cares and he says this is right. This is wrong. Walk this way.

Don't do that. Not because he's a dictator, but because he's a god who loves. God who saves in a god who loves his children. So think about it. Think about it for a moment.

There are so many commands in the bible, aren't there? Think about Afhesians 5 25 husbands love your wives as Christ has loved the church. Husbands, you've been obedient to that? Wives would love that if you are being obedient to that. Are you if you have children or you care for some children or maybe you're a grandparent and you're looking after children?

Are you teaching the children in the way in which they should go? Other commands, are you characterized by giving thanks in all circumstances, 1 thessalonians? Are you, doing all things for the good of others. Nothing out of selfish, ambition or vain conceits at Philippines too. Command that should should guard our hearts but should, we should at least be striving for, firstly be knowing what they are.

But then be striving to be obedient to them. Are you subject to rulers Titus 3? Are you avoidance foolish con controversies Titus 3? I mean, that you there are countless, commandments, aren't there? Are we evidence in our Christian life through an obedience to the lord's commands?

Verse 5 of 1 John 2 tells us that the 1 who obeys his word, then god's love is truly made complete in him. What does he mean? I think he means that there's a filling up of the love for god and a love from god that's made complete that there's a joy in obeying god's word. The more that we shall enjoy, god's word and obey him, the more that we find that god is enjoyed. He's the love of our hearts and the delight of our souls.

The more we obey god, the more his love will be known and accomplish his purposes in our lives. The test of living in the light is growing in love for god with the daily detailed disciplined obedience by which our characters are being transformed into the image of god whom we love. And let me just say this. Let me just say this. It can sound I mean, the whole Christian world is always swinging pendulums, and it sounds like law, obedience, wears grace.

And then there's this opposite pendulum of Antononiumism, I mean, can't even say the word where, you know, like, we're saved under grace, so I don't have to obey. The bubble didn't give us either of those extremes. And and and when we see the beauty of god's word and the commands we so often see, then these beautiful commands to be obeyed are surrounded by god's promises. Surrounded by god's promises. So as we're obedient, we find a fulfillment, we find a promise, we find a wholes, and we find that our lives are made up, and we're full of joy of the lord who is our strength.

And that love is made complete as we're maturing in Christ. Though we far for far short Look at verse 6, whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. Though we far fall far so far short, we have 1 who has always being obedient to the father. We have an advocate for the times that we fail. We have 1 who steps into the gap when we we refuse or we fail to obey god's word.

We have the lord Jesus who gave his life for our failings, the 1 who was always obedient to the lord's commands, who loved to do the father's will. In Matthews's gospel twice. God says, this is my beloved son, whom this is my son whom I love. I am well pleased with him. Why?

Because of his obedience? Jesus himself in in Matthew, 12 takes up that Isaiah passage and applies it to himself of being the 1 who is always obedient, the obedient son. When we fail, we mustn't be dejected or mustn't lose heart, but we look to the 1 who has succeeded. The son of god, who was always obedient who stands in the gap, who dies for die for our sins. And by his grace restores us for another day to live for King Jesus.

Yeah? That's the assurance. But there's a warning. Look at verse 4. This is the warning for the imposter, and I wonder if any of am I speaking to any of you here?

Here or online? Verse 4, whoever says I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. I know him. I I say I know him, but I don't do his will. I don't obey his commands.

You're a liar. You're an imposter. You're deceived. You have not the truth of Christ in you. To speak and say that 1 is a Christian in the family of god without obedience to his commands is false.

He's a fake. An imposter. You might be young or you might be old in this room. You may be growing up in a a a a Christian home. And you you you might be I don't know.

12, 13, 14, 15. And you might say, well, I think I'm a Christian. Well, let me ask you this, are you obeying god's word? Do you have the certainty to know? Don't be a fake.

Don't be an imposter. Maybe you're older, and church has always been your thing. And and, and you've always come to church. And you say, yes, I I'm part of this group. I'm part of that group, but you're still in rebellion because you're disobeying god's word.

Don't be a faith. Don't be a liar. The truth is not in you. Jesus said 1 day There will be many that says, Lord. Lord, did I not do this?

Did I not do that? And he will say, I never knew you. James would say Don't just hear the word, but do the word. And so there we have our first evidence of being in the family of God. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

That's the first family likeness. What about the second verse 7 to 11? True fellowship and relationship with God comes by genuine repentance of sin. And is evidenced by a life characterized by obedience to god's word? And secondly, a genuine love for the brothers and sisters in Christ.

Evidence firstly by an obedience to god's word, but secondly, a genuine love for the brothers and sisters. Look at verse 7 and 8. Verse 7, dear friends, I'm not writing you a new command but an old 1, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command.

It's truth is seen in him and didn't you because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. The 7 tells us love is not a new command, but it's an old command. It's what the brothers and sisters knew right at their new birth when they were first converted. But John seems to speak of an old command and a new command. The new command, let me just say out there first 9 to 11.

If you wanted a shorthand for the new command, it is to love 1 another. John would re echo that into John. Let me just read you to John, 4 and 6. It has been giving me great joy to find some of your children walking in truth just as the father commanded. And now, dear lady, I'm not writing you a new command, but 1 we have had from the beginning.

I ask that we love 1 another and this is love that we walk in obedience to his plans as you have heard from the beginning. His command is that you walk in love. So, therefore, we wanna just quickly ask the 7 and 8 How is this love 1 another? A new command? And how is it an old commander?

What is new about this old command? Well, the commandment to love 1 another is not new in time. Is it that's been the the echo of the scriptures for all time. You just read the old testament. But it's got a new quality about it now.

A new quality, a new character, a new stent we might say because of Jesus Christ. The old mosaic commandment to love 1 another has taken on a fuller more flowered meaning if you like as the lord Jesus Christ has come. Verse 8, it seems to me that John thinks about the issues. It thinks, thinks about the issue. He thinks, again, of what the Lord said in, in his first gospel, gospel of John, verse 13, verse 34, He says a new command I give you.

Love 1 another. Here's the quality. As I have loved you, so you must love 1 another. By this, all people or men will know that you are my disciples. What if you love 1 another.

The evidence that you are a following our lord Jesus is as you love 1 another with the quality that Christ has loved 1 of others. The truth, as I have loved you, his love for those he died for, he laid down his life. He laid down his life for sinners. No 1 could take his life. He gave it up.

Just think of the lord Jesus Christ life for those 3 years here on those 3 ministry years on earth. Mistreated misunderstood, mis thought of. He lays down his life. He gives up his life for the love of his enemies. You think what Philippians too would tell us, you don't have to turn back to it, but for Europeans too, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Who being in the very nature god did not consider equality. The god's something to be used to his own advantage rather he made himself nothing by taking at the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance of the man. He humbled himself be by becoming obedient to death, even death upon a cross. See the quality and the extent of Christ's love? That is to be the quality and the extent of the believers love for the brothers and for the sisters.

It's staggering, isn't it? And here's the staggering thing. Look at verse 8, yet I am writing you a new command. It's truth is seen in him verse 8 and in you. The quality of Christ's love is to be seen in his church individually and corporately.

The quality and the extent and the depth of Christ's love should be uh-uh recognized should be a a key blood in the veins of the church here on earth. That he that love that's seen in him is seen in you brothers and sisters, individually and corporately genuine Christian love expressed in the church between all the brothers and sisters. And you see, Christ does not give you a get out card. You have no liberty to pull rank or race on whom you love. Within god's church.

You have no liberty to do that. You cannot say, I will love him or her, but not him or her because of this or because of that. No brothers and sisters. We are called to love 1 another without pulling race or rank without withholding. That would be cause us, to be in terrible danger.

Look at verse 9. If anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. If you hate your brother's brother or sister, There's an appearance of Christianity in your life and yet you hate your brother or sister and you do not love them then then you're in the dark. Still in darkness, verse 11, but anyone who hates a brother or sister is in darkness and walks around in darkness. They do not know where they're going because the darkness has blinded them.

In the Bible light, gives us that sense of god's approval and god's work, darkness of his disapproval and of his judgment. I think what John is saying You go around hating your brother or sister, then you're in darkness. You remain under the wrath of god. You're deceived. Action speak louder and words.

Those who had claimed have fellowship with god and know him and yet do not love fellow believers John says, they're in the dark, but brothers and sisters verse 10 verse 10. Let's let's roll on nearly finished. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lived in the light. There you go lives in the light. With god smile upon their lives.

With god's joy as they go around serving the body. Washing the feet and whatever that would look like. Christians living in the light, thankful for 1 another, seeing the experience of grace in 1 another. Holding out mercy and kindness to 1 another. Our love will be seen in thoughtful and prayer driven activity to encourage 1 another in the lord.

To pray for others, to listen to others, to rejoice with others, to weep with others, to grant words of encouragement to the downcast. There be an absence of malicious gossip in the church. There'd be a willingness to go the second mile for the brothers and sisters. There will be an absolute, all out desire to go towards 1 another, not away to 1 another. Book of Hebrews would say, do not absent yourself from the gathering of god's people as somewhere in the habit of doing.

Why? Because how can I serve the church if I'm not here? How can I lay down my life as Christ has laid down my life his life for me for the church? How can I lay down my life for the church? If I'm not here?

If I'm not praying, if I'm not engaging, if I'm not fellowshiping with the brothers and sisters, how will I know what you're going through? How will I be accurate in my prayers and thoughtful in my aid to you? How will you do that to me? Even though I'm not in your church. Well, I am this morning.

It'll be, won't it? Like the great passages of pours, colossians, therefore, as god's chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourself what with? Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bear with 1 another. Forgive 1 another. If any of you have a grievance against someone, even in the sour moments of church, when the wheels come off, when there's a disagreement, when there's friction, when there's those silly things that go on churches, they go on in all churches.

We're able to step into that and say Christ has forgiven me. Therefore, I must live in the light of Jesus and what he is like and I will forgive. Evidence. Overall, these things Paul says put on the virtues of love which binds them altogether that the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Since as members of 1 body you accord to peace, be thankful.

Let the message of Christ dwell in you, richly as you teach, and admonish 1 another with all wisdom through the Psalms hymns, songs of spirit singing to god with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the lord Jesus, giving thanks to the father. Family likeness. Who do you look like your mum? Your dad, brother, sister?

I maybe. Apologize for some of us, can't we? But do you look like your family of god? Do you evidence the born again nature that you have? Do you evidence the spirit of work in your life as you as you are being obedient to god's commands?

Saying lord teach me your way lord help me to walk in obedience to you. Now you've got that. And have you got loving your brothers and sisters? Do you love? 1 another.

Family likeness. I guess just as we finish, few questions. Firstly, do you know you're in the family because you've trusted Jesus Christ as his Simbear and Savior that he died for you upon the cross that as you pray and say lord, forgive me of my sin, your sin was nailed upon the cross as he was made sin for us. That's the entrance. But here's the other 2 questions.

If you are confessing Christ as lord and savior. Is there evidence? Are you being obedient? And are you loving the brothers and the sisters? Father we pray that you indeed would work your word into our hearts where there is resistance, where there is sin, where there is ignorance, perhaps by your spirit might you, show us show us how we should conform ourselves to the image of Christ in obedience to your commands and love for the brothers and sisters.

Will help each 1 of us and help us as a church to do that. Or do we recognize that as we do it locally, we do it globally as we think of our brothers and sisters around the globe help us to love them too as we pray for them and as we give? Oh, god, we pray. Help us, we ask in Christ's name. Our men.

Father, we thank you again for the lord Jesus Christ. We thank you that he brings us into the family and, starts working on us to become family members and, and to to resemble our savior. We pray, please. You'd help us to love these these, commands that you would cause us to rejoice in them and to be conformed to them by your spirit, that we may love Christ all the more, that we may see his beauty, and wanna follow him. Like a son wants to follow a father that we would we would be enthusiastic about the things that Christ is enthusiastic about, that we would love the things that Christ loves, that we would resemble our savior, and please lord help us to look out to our brothers and sisters and love them and see that we've been rescued, and they've been rescued, and we're in the family.

And, despite little annoyances that there would be love and forgiveness and service for each other, We thank you for these truths that we've been reminded of. We, we pray now that you would help us as we go in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.