Sermon Series ; Epistle : 1st John
- This is the message we heard from him and which we announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him.
- If we say we have fellowship with him while walking in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.
God is light, there are no shadows, no unmentionable things in Him. He therefore invites His disciples to imitate Him. May they too be luminous, true, without double bottoms or hidden intentions like the false teachers who try to deceive the churches. One can discern their true intentions because their distorted biblical teachings produce conflict and division. Conversely, the Christian reflects his love for all in the image of Jesus, Son of God, crucified. Finally, the strength and simplicity of the Gospel truly believed and lived has a luminous effect and preserves from all ill-intentioned biblical distortions.
The sermon series is given by pastor Patrice Berger. sermons are translated from the originl French version. Bible verses link to the Bible in Basic English. The Bible is available online in audio/podcast form in several versions including the Bible in Basic English (1 year reading plan):
Our brotherly love shows God
God makes His home in the believer by His Spirit, it is invisible. However, if we listen to the action of the Spirit, the love manifested between us will demonstrate His presence, this will make God concrete and visible. In contrast, God is unreadable to those around us when we hate one another.
What spirit animates my life?
It is the paradox of our technological society, what is supernatural has the wind in its sails, there is nothing but to see the number of series, films etc. What is supernatural influences the lives of atheists and believers, but are these inspirations compatible with faith in Christ? The apostle John sheds light on the subject from God.
Loving your brother in faith is a sign of our attachment to Christ
A dear friend said to me one day: – “We talk a lot about love in the Church but we don't see it often…”. Yet brotherly love is the concrete sign that testifies to our belonging to Christ.
Our righteous acts sign our attachment to Christ
Football is a game that is played with a round ball and with the whole body except the arms and hands for field players. If one of them ventured to play by hand, it's a fault, it's the rule. What if we take an oval ball?!? For life, the apostle John recalls certain basic aspects; there is an incompatibility between declaring oneself a child of God and taking pleasure in or justifying sin, one's sin. Those who do this belong to the devil. Inevitably, those who are Christians sign their life with righteous act
Our Certainties in Christ in the Face of the Antichrist
The Antichrist will have worldwide influence, subjugate men and rise against Christ and his children. Antichrists present the same opposition to Christ and believers, they come from the environment of the Church. They deny that Christ is the messenger of God, the Messiah, and that He is the son of God, the Father. Faced with this danger, the apostle encourages believers by reminding them that the Holy Spirit equips them to discern the truth. Moreover, they only have to attach themselves to what they received at the beginning and live according to that.
Who is my brother in faith in Christ?
If we do not have the benefit of divine illumination, we are in the shadow of darkness and we cannot claim that our choices are those of God. The apostle John reminds his readers of this so that their thoughts and the philosophies of life of the time are not big clouds that hide the divine lighting and, with time, they no longer support the divine light, and the commandments of God. How do I know if I am in the light of Christ? I can't hate a brother in Christ.
Hating My Brother in Faith Shows That I’m Away from Christ
If we are not benefiting from divine illumination, we are in the shadow of darkness and cannot claim that our choices are God's. The apostle John reminds his readers of this so that their thoughts and the philosophies of life of the time are not big clouds that hide the divine lighting and, with time, they no longer support the divine light, the commandments of God. How do I know if I am in the light of Christ? I can't hate a brother in Christ.
The Revealer of Our Devotion (1 John 2:2)
The Revealer of Our Commitment to Christ Living by the Word of God Demonstrates Our Commitment to Christ The life of a believer is simple and consistent. If you claim to follow Christ, then you are following what He says in the Bible. The reverse would be lying and showing distrust of Christ.
God Is Transparent with Us, So Be Transparent with Him and Others (1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:2)
Summary: In ancient theatres, the hypocrite hid behind a mask to play another person. However, we should underline that God is not like that. God is light, that is transparent, and He expects believers to be so too, with Him and others.
Complete Joy in Knowing The One Who Is in The Beginning (1 John 1: 1-4)
Summary: The apostle John begins his gospel and his series of epistles with the “beginning”. The foundations of faith are based on an explanation of life and the beginning of all that exists. Isn't this an opportunity to reflect on this point?