Introduction: So this is the fifth in a series of topical messages from 1 John. The words we have been considering were lust, lies, life, light, and this week, love. Remember that the lust of the eyes, ...
Love in 1 John
Light in 1 John
Introduction: As members of a fallen race, we want, we desire. What we want is the world, seized by us outside the framework of God’s character. This is what worldliness is. Because we want ...
Life in 1 John
Introduction: We have considered the enticements of worldliness—the snare that tripped up our first parents. Those enticements are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride ...
Liars in 1 John
Introduction: We should all know that it is a sin to lie. Perjury is, after all, prohibited by the ninth commandment (Ex. 20:16). The Colossians were told not to lie to one another, now that ...
Lust in 1 John
Introduction: We are beginning a short series of sermons in 1 John, but the messages are of a topical nature. Although these messages will revolve around particular topics, I believe that ...
Final Assurance
John comes to the conclusion of his short letter in a resounding crescendo of assurance. He does this in the only possible context of biblical assurance, the context of the absolute difference between right and wrong. “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. …
An Intersection of Tests
We have been considering and distinguishing the various tests for genuine Christianity. We now come to the portion of the epistle of John where it becomes evident that while these things may be distinguished, they cannot be separated. We have come to the intersection of the tests. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love …
Real Assurance
Every careful Christian has considered the vexing question of assurance. What is the ground of my salvation? What is the ground of my confidence in salvation? How can I know that I am right before God? “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him . …
No Traffic in Grays
Recall that John gives a cycle of tests for genuine Christianity. That three-fold cycle includes righteousness, love, and doctrinal integrity, and in this place he begins working his way through this cycle for a second time. A true Christian may be described as one who does what is right, loves his brothers, and believes certain …
AntiChrist and Beast
Few teachings in the Bible have been as wildly misunderstood as the teaching of the apostle John on the Antichrist. Opinions and speculation about him are commonplace. Unfortunately, the assumptions made about Antichrist are usually far away from the actual teaching of the Bible on the subject. “Little children, it is the last hour; and …