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):
Prayer answered
Either we believe God for the resolution of sin by Christ which opens to life, eternal life: in this relationship, Christ listens to our prayers made within the framework of His will and we have the assurance that the answer will come from Him, especially if we see a brother sin so that he comes back on the path of life in Christ. But this situation must be considered as exceptional because, inevitably, being born of God by Christ the objective is to keep oneself, to preserve oneself from evil. In this attitude of life, the bad does not touch the believer, even if our environment is under the power of evil. The believer is not under the power of the evil one.
In Jesus alone
Isn't there more interesting than following the reading of an old epistle while humanity is going through difficulties (ex. COVID)? We have a short memory, the apostle could retort. Jeans. In his time, the difficulties were much greater and he was well aware of it (he will be the only apostle not to die a martyr). However, instead of denouncing, writing manifestos, he recalls the most important thing, Christ.
Christ is the victory for our present life and for eternity
Christ is the victory for our present life and for eternity Living faith in Christ is the key to living God in our society. Christ is the victory for our present life.
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?
Key verses from the epistle 1st John
9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John
2:9-10/ KJV
9. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
John
2:9-10/ KJV
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
9. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
18. For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
4. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
11. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
15. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
1. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?