Authentic Christianity Part 3 1 John 3

Last week in our study together we learned that the faith community that

John was writing too was concerned that they had rightly

understood the message of the gospel.

We discovered that John gave them three tests of authentic Christianity.

Pass the tests, and you could be assured that you were living out the

salvation God had worked in. (Phil 2:12)

There is a moral test, a social test and a dogma test.

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our obedience to God’s

Commands; that’s the moral test

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our love for one another;

That’s the social test.

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by believing that Jesus is God

incarnate, that’s the dogma test.

In Chapter 3 John is going to elaborate on the moral test and the social test.

Once again we are going to turn this auditorium into a research center.

You are the researchers on a quest for truth.

I want you to work in groups,

Ask questions, share your observations, dig out the meaning

and application of what John has written.

We’ll spend more time with the John’s elaboration of the moral test than with the

social test.

We will concentrate on Chapter 3:4-10 and 3:11-19

In Chapter 3 verses 4-10 John elaborates on the moral test.

The test of living right and wrong.

By the end of our session to day you should leave here knowing if you are living

your life in such a way to pass the tests.

Bible study without application is a waste of time.

Questions?

John’s elaboration on the moral test, the obedience test, begins in chapter 3 verse 4--

1 John 3:4-10 (MSG)

All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. 5 Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. 6 No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backwards.

7 So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. 8 Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways.

9 People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. 10 Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

Let me give you just a little reminder of the situation John is addressing.

Then I will cut you loose to do some wrestling with the text.

Cerinthus, he is the one that has thrown this faith community into a tizzy.

Cerinthus was a Gnostic.

Gnosticism was a prevailing philosophy of the day that was used to

understand the whole life and ministry of Jesus

Cerinthus taught that the only thing that mattered was that a Christian,

Receive special secret knowledge from the Christ,

That would purify their spirit of all sin.

Once your spirit was pure, it didn’t matter what you did,

Because the material, flesh and blood, the body,

Could not defile the spirit.

You might wonder who would believe that?

Well just this week at the DMV, Robert Farmer got into a

conversation with a guy who described himself as a “carnal

Christian.”

The word carnal is best understood as egoism.

When you wrestle with the concept of carnal Christian you are dealing

with our old enemy within egoism.

The self centered on the self.

Being the arbitrator of what is right and wrong.

You choose what is good and what is evil.

A carnal Christian does what ever they please.

This is basically what Cerinthus was advocating.

As long as you had experienced enlightenment you were spiritually pure,

It didn’t matter what you did in the material world,

Your spirit was safe from defilement, from sin.

Questions?

John tells us that authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our obedience to God’s

commands.

Let’s see how John expands this truth:

What does John mean by indulging in a sinful life?

1 John 3:4-6 (MSG)

What does John mean by indulging in a sinful life?

….active rebellion against God.

…lawless (anomia)

Wesleyan categories of sin.

Original sin—estrangement from righteousness

Sin Nature – egoism

Sinning

a. willful transgression (anomia)

b. non-volitional transgression

c. habits, attachments and addictions that one is

seeking deliverance from

d. organic imperfections

…not caring when you have sinned.

No sense of guilt or shame, so you continue

… Gal 5:19-21 (MSG)

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

Revelation 22:15 (MSG)

But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.

… sin—hamartia , missing the mark.

Anything that deters, damages or destroys right relationships.

… “Gnosticism led its adherents to different conclusions.

Some supposed that their possession of gnosis had made them

perfect; others maintained that sin did not matter because

it could not harm those who had been

enlightened…

The first is blind to sin and denies its existence;

the second is indifferent to sin and denies its gravity.” (Stott, p. 126)

Indulging in a sinful lifestyle is knowing what God wants you to do but refusing to

do it.

You are embracing what God has said not to embrace,

You are rationalizing your sin,

Indifferent to the relational unrighteousness you are

creating.

Observations?

John continues to expound on the theme of obedience.

What is the spiritual condition of a Christian who is practicing sin?

1 John 3:7-8 (MSG)

What is the spiritual condition of a Christian who is practicing sin?

…hamartanei—the verb meaning a present continuous act

…lukewarm? (Revelation 3:16)

Rev 3:15-17 (MSG)

"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! 16 You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. 17 You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

…trying to serve two masters? (Matthew 6:24)

Matt 6:24 (MSG)

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other.

…not really a Christian to begin with? (2 Peter 2:22)

2 Peter 2:20-22 (MSG)

If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. 21 Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. 22 They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit," and, "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud."

…jeopardizing their righteous relationship with God (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Heb 6:4-6 (MSG)

Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, 5 once they've personally experienced the sheer goodness of God's Word and the powers breaking in on us— 6 if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public!

…going to get axed? (Luke 3:8-9)

Luke 3:8-9 (MSG)

It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. 9 What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

It seems to me that the spiritual condition of the Christian who continues to

practice sin is one of jeopardy.

The scripture is clear about the need for holiness.

We are called to keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25)

So that we can go where He leads,

We are not headed anywhere good if we keep in

step with egoism.

We’re backsliding, going back wards, moving away from righteousness.

Move to far and you may not be able to get back.

It’s a dangerous game to practice sin.

Observations?

John is helping us understand the depths of this moral test for authentic

Christianity.

What do you think “God’s seed” is? What does it empower you to do?

What do you think “God’s seed” is?

What does it empower you to do?

…The Holy Spirit, the anointing of (1 John 2:27), the DNA of the family,

“Not an inability to sin, but a life characterized by doing the right

thing.” (Reflecting God Study Bible, note on 1 John 3:9, p. 1910)

… “The heretics appear to have indulged in the subtly perverse reasoning

that somehow you could ‘be’ righteous without necessarily bothering

to ‘practice’ righteousness. (Stott, p. 124)

… hamartia and its tenses:

hamartanei: present tense indicating a settled character

hamartian : a settled habit of sin

hamartanein : present infinitive, meaning will not sin habitually

1Jn 3:9 πας^G3956
A-NSM ο^G3588
T-NSM γεγεννημενος^{G1080
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PREP του^G3588
T-GSM θεου^G2316
N-GSM αμαρτιαν^G266
N-ASF ου^G3756
PRT-N ποιει^{G4160

V-PAI-3S} οτι^G3754
CONJ σπερμα^G4690
N-NSN αυτου^G846
P-GSM εν^G1722
PREP αυτω^G846
P-DSM μενει^{G3306

V-PAI-3S} και^G2532
CONJ ου^G3756
PRT-N δυναται^{G1410

V-PNI-3S} αμαρτανειν^G264
V-PAN οτι^G3754
CONJ εκ^G1537
PREP του^G3588
T-GSM θεου^G2316
N-GSM γεγεννηται^{G1080

V-RPI-3S}

…sanctifying grace, the desire to be the power to do, to become more like

Jesus

I think its best to understand God’s seed as the Holy Spirit work in your life.

Ruach has spiritual DNA that transforms us into the image and likeness of

Jesus.

Pneuma empowers us to live our lives to the full,

Causing us to desire the will of God and equipping us to

accomplish the will of God.

Observations?

Before we move on to Johns thoughts on the social test we need to come up

with an application for the moral test.

Does us no good to know the truth but then fail to put it into practice.

Any suggestions?

For me the application of the moral test in my life,

Means that I must not tolerate habitual sin in my life,

I must not practice sin,

I must repent, be delivered from it.

My eyes must be fixed on living righteously and

Getting rid of anything that keeps me from that goal.

We are only going to spend a few moments considering John’s elaboration of the

social test.

I think it very evident what characteristic Authentic Christians

demonstrate to others, especially those in the family of God.

John has told us that there is a social test for Authentic Christianity.

The real deal is demonstrated by our love for one another.

In Chapter 3 verse 11 – 19 John puts some more meat on this test.

We’ll pick up our reading at verse 13

We will want to discover what love is a sign of,

and the essence of love, what love is towards others,

1 John 3:14-19 (MSG)

14 The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.

16 This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. 17 If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

18 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 19 This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

In verse 11-13

John calls us to mutual love.

John tells us those that hate are like Cain,

Cain symbolizes how the people of the world conduct there

lives—Jealousy—envy—hatred—murder.

Those that hate persecute and destroy.

They are of the devil.

Cain the unrighteous will always seek to destroy the righteous.

What is love a sign of, what does love demonstrate to the world?

1 John 3:14-15 (MSG)

… that we are spiritually alive in Christ

…that we are walking in the light having fellowship with God

…”Love is the surest test of having life…” (Stott, p 141)

Love is the sign that we are practicing authentic Christianity.

Observations?

What is the essence of love, how do we recognize it?

… self sacrifice

… “A person’s life is his most precious possession.

To rob him of it is consequently the greatest sin we can commit against him…For the same reason, to give one’s life on

another’s behalf is the greatest possible expression of

love for him.” (Stott, p. 143)

…love is seeking to meet the need of another at the cost of a personal

sacrifice.

… “Love is the willingness to surrender that which ahs value for our own

life , to enrich the life of another.” (Stott quoting Dodd, p. 143)

What is the essence of love, how do we recognize it?

The essence of love is self-sacrifice, love is seen when we give ourselves,

When we give our time, talent and treasure,

to help someone else.

Love seeks the other person’s good, and leads to activity for the other

person, especially if that activity costs you something. (Stott, p 142)

Observations?

Verses 18 and 19 gives us the application and also the assurance that we are living

the Christian lifestyle.

18 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 19 This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

Our lifestyle of love,

Our deeds of love,

Our activity on behalf of another

Proves that we are Authentic Christians.

Observations?

Rank yourself on the Moral test and the Social test.

Moral Test

Practicing Practicing Sin Righteousness

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Social Test

Hating Others Loving Others

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Two final questions—which direction do you truly want to be traveling in?

To the left into religion and error or to the right into authentic Christianity?

What are you going to do to move yourself along?

BACK

Authentic Christianity Part 3 1 John 3

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our obedience to God’s Commands;

that’s the moral test

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our love for one another;

that’s the social test.

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by believing that Jesus is God incarnate,

that’s the dogma test.

1 John 3:4-10 (MSG)

What does John mean by indulging in a sinful life?

1 John 3:4-6 (MSG)

… Gal 5:19-21 (MSG)

Revelation 22:15 (MSG)

But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.

Indulging in a sinful lifestyle is knowing what God wants you to do but refusing to do it.

What is the spiritual condition of a Christian who is practicing sin?

1 John 3:7-8 (MSG)

What is the spiritual condition of a Christian who is practicing sin?

…hamartanei—the verb meaning a present continuous act

…lukewarm? (Revelation 3:16)

Rev 3:15-17 (MSG)

…trying to serve two masters? (Matthew 6:24)

Matt 6:24 (MSG)

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other.

…not really a Christian to begin with? (2 Peter 2:22)

2 Peter 2:20-22 (MSG)

…jeopardizing their righteous relationship with God (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Heb 6:4-6 (MSG)

…going to get axed? (Luke 3:8-9)

Luke 3:8-9 (MSG)

It seems to me that the spiritual condition of the Christian who continues to practice sin is one of jeopardy.

What do you think “God’s seed” is? What does it empower you to do?

I think its best to understand God’s seed as the Holy Spirit work in your life. Ruach has spiritual DNA that transforms us into the image and likeness of Jesus. Pneuma empowers us to live our lives to the full, causing us to desire the will of God and equipping us to

accomplish the will of God.

For me the application of the moral test in my life,

Means that I must not tolerate habitual sin in my life,

I must not practice sin,

I must repent, be delivered from it.

My eyes must be fixed on living righteously and

Getting rid of anything that keeps me from that goal.

We are only going to spend a few moments considering John’s elaboration of the social test.

We will want to discover what love is a sign of, and the essence of love, what love is

towards others.

1 John 3:14-19 (MSG)

18 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 19 This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

What is love a sign of, what does love demonstrate to the world?

1 John 3:14-15 (MSG)

Love is the sign that we are practicing authentic Christianity.

What is the essence of love, how do we recognize it?

The essence of love is self-sacrifice, love is seen when we give ourselves, when we give our time, talent and treasure, to help someone else.

Verses 18 & 19 gives us the application and also the assurance that we are living the Christian lifestyle.

18 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 19 This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

Our lifestyle of love, our deeds of love, our activity on behalf of another proves that we are Authentic Christians.

Moral Test

Practicing Practicing Sin Righteousness

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Social Test

Hating Others Loving Others

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Which direction do you truly want to be traveling in?

What are you going to do to move yourself along?

Authentic Christianity Part 3 1 John 3

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our obedience to God’s Commands;

that’s the ______________ test

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by our love for one another;

that’s the ______________ test.

Authentic Christianity is demonstrated by believing that Jesus is God incarnate,

that’s the ______________ test.

1 John 3:4-10 (MSG)

What does John mean by indulging in a sinful life?

1 John 3:4-6 (MSG)

Indulging in a sinful lifestyle is:

What is the spiritual condition of a Christian who is practicing sin?

1 John 3:7-8 (MSG)

The spiritual condition of the Christian who continues to practice sin is:

What do you think “God’s seed” is? What does it empower you to do?

1 John 3:9-10 (MSG)

I think its best to understand God’s seed as:

The application of the moral test in my life:

Next: We will want to discover what love is a sign of, and the essence of love, what love is towards others.

1 John 3:14-19 (MSG)

What is love a sign of, what does love demonstrate to the world?

1 John 3:14-15 (MSG)

Love is the sign that:

What is the essence of love, how do we recognize it?

1 John 3:16-17 (MSG)

The essence of love is:

The application and also the assurance that we are living the Christian lifestyle.

1 John 3:18-19 (MSG)

Our ______________ of love, our ______________ of love, our ______________ on behalf of another proves that we are Authentic Christians.

Moral Test

Practicing Practicing Sin Righteousness

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Social Test

Hating Others Loving Others

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Which direction do you truly want to be traveling in?

What are you going to do to move yourself along?