October 19, 2008
1 John: Confess and Walk in the Light (1 John 1: 9 - 2: 6)
Steve Lane

A. Introduction/Review

1 Corinthians 9: 24 Not on the team

A letter from John the Apostle, around 90 AD. (The tone was pastoral, but radical)
Assurance of salvation that proves itself out in a life fully committed to following Jesus
John had a deep awareness of eternity - "it'll be here before you know it."

1 John 1: 3 - 4
The roof off, and the walls down -- the joy of like-minded fellowship.

He remembers Acts 2: 42 and Acts 4: 32 - 37
A call to revival

Darkness: falsehood and sin.
Light: truth and holiness

Verse 8: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves."

King Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25: 2,8 - not just about pride, but deceitfulness of the heart.

King George prison story

B. Confess Your Sin

1 John 1: 9
Holy living and walking in the light is a sign of a true believer. So is confession of sin.

Admitting specific sins opens the door to deal with sin.
But, confession is required. You must act on it -- do things differently now.

Proverbs 28: 13
Confession and abandonment of sin leads us to God's mercy.
1 John 1: 10

C. Walking in the Light

1 John 2: 1
Resisting sin

Romans 6: 11 - 14
Romans 8: 12 - 13
1 Corinthians 15: 34
Titus 2: 11 - 12
1 Peter 1: 13 - 16
2 Peter 1: 3 - 11

Advocate or helper - "speaks to the Father in our defense"
Revelation 12: 10
Hebrews 4: 14 - 16
Jesus as the defense attorney guaranteeing acquittal.

1 John 2: 2 Propitation: appeasement or satisfaction
1 John 2: 3

Titus 1: 16
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.

James 2: 14 - 26
Obedience to God's commands is a test of salvation. (Not the only test.)

Two repeated words: know and obey (keep)

You don't get to stay at Vanity Fair or the House Beautiful, or camp at...

1 John 2: 4
Pretty strong words

1 John 2: 5
Complete or perfect describes both a state and a process.

1 John 1: 4,6,7
Those who know God can have true fellowship, and they will strongly desire it.

1 John 2: 6 "live in Him" (meno)

John 6: 38 "Walk as Jesus did"

D. Conclusion

Prayer for each one:
Heart not deceive you
Confession and repentance
Filled with the Spirit
Passion for God
Boldness for the Gospel
Walk in the Light
1 John 3: 18 - 22