Sermon notes
Re-Energize: The Letters of John
Conditions for Walking in the Light
Rev. Reuben Foncardas
Scripture: 1 John 2:1-11
Before Jesus was arrested, he spent his last meal with his disciples in the upper room. There he explained to them the kind of relationship they will have once the Holy Spirit comes upon them (John 14-17). I John is a letter that expounds this kind of relationship believers have with God. The author’s underlying desire for writing 1st John is to motivate Christians to cultivate greater intimacy with God.
To enjoy our fellowship with God, 1st John calls us to walk in the light and not to walk in spiritual darkness. There are at least two basic conditions for living in the light.
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1. RENOUNCE your Sin. (1:8-2:2)
• Let us not deceive ourselves to think that we are without (not guilty of) sin (1:8). What hurts God are not just the things we do (sin of commission), but also those we do not do (sin of omission).
• Let us not call God a liar by thinking that what we did or did not do is not sin at all (1:10). God defines what sin is, not us.
• Let us do our best not to sin. But if we do sin, we must confess (agree with God) that sin (1:9), and trust Jesus, our advocate, for the forgiveness of our sin (2:1-2)
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2. OBEY your Savior. (2:3-11)
• If we claim to know Him (v. 4), we would be keeping His word (v. 5).
• If we claim to abide in Him (v. 6a), we would be following His example (v. 6b).
• If we claim to be in the light (v. 9), we would be loving our fellow believers (v. 10).
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Conclusion: Intimacy is God’s goal for us. It glorifies him and grants us pure delight in our fellowship with him.
