Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
WE KNOW; WE KNOW; WE KNOW.
1 JOHN 5:18-21
WE KNOW; WE KNOW; WE KNOW.
1 JOHN 5:18-21
INTRODUCTION:
Not long ago a comment from a television program prompted me to ask
my wife a question. I asked her "do you think I love you?" She answered
"I know you love me" The words I know bring assurance.
In this book John says "we know" 15 times. John writes to give assurances
the words "we know" are assuring words. John assures our hearts concerning
several matters:
1. WE KNOW ABOUT SIN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 18
2. WE KNOW ABOUT SATAN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 19
3. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SON AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 20
4. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUMMARY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 21
I. WE KNOW ABOUT . . SIN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 18
EXPLANATION:
A. We know about the PRACTICE OF SIN. v 18 a
"We know that no one who is born of God sins; . . . "
B. We know about the PROCESS OF SIN. v 18 b
". . . but He who was born
of God keeps him. . ."
C. We know about the PROTECTION OF SIN. v 18 c
". . . keeps him and the
evil one does not touch him. "
ILLUSTRATION: One writer described how we have rationalized and euphemized away sin:
* Abortion is no longer murder. It is simply a woman exercising her right of privacy to her own body.
* Homosexuality is merely a difference in sexual preference.
* Pornography is an expression of free speech.
* Adultery is "living together" and
* Illegitimate babies are "love children."
TOPIC:
An elderly woman stood on a busy street corner, hesitant to cross because
there was no traffic signal. As she waited, a gentleman came up beside
her and asked, "May I cross over with you?" Relieved, she thanked him and
took his arm.
The path they took was anything but safe. The man seemed to be confused
as they dodged traffic and walked in a zig-zag pattern across the street.
"You almost got us killed!" the woman exclaimed in anger when they finally
reached the curb. "You walk like you're blind!" "I am," he replied. "That's
why I asked if I could cross with you."
APPLICATION:
If we let those who are spiritually blind lead us we will both fall
into a ditch of lowered morality.
II. WE KNOW ABOUT SATAN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 19
EXPLANATION:
A. WE KNOW WHO OWNS US. v 19 a
B. WE KNOW WHO OWNS THE WORLD. v 19 b
ILLUSTRATION:
Recently, the leaders of the National Council of Churches warned President
Bush to remember that God is neither a Republican, nor a Democrat. A comedian
made the observation: "While it's true that God is not a Republican or
a Democrat, I think we'd all agree the devil is registered with both parties!"
-8-31-92
Illustration
Near the Temple Bar on London's Fleet Street was a tavern known as
the "Devil and St. Dunstan." Many lawyers at the end of court frequented
it and when one left his office to visit the tavern he was likely to put
up a notice to that effect on his door reading, "Gone to the Devil" --
Devil being the tavern's abbreviated name. The sign became such a common
sight that it finally took on the meaning of "going to ruin."
Illustration
Doubled over and choking, they staggered to hospitals by the thousands,
crying for help and refuge from a colorless cloud of gas that turned Bhopal,
India into a tomb on a terrible December day in 1984. "We have been working
nonstop to treat the people and still they are coming," said one volunteer
who tried to help doctors and nurses cope with streams of injured at five
jammed hospitals. Several thousand died in the accident at the Union Carbide
plant, many never fully aware of what hit them.
No enemy is harder to fight than an invisible one. Believers also face an unseen adversary, who leads the forces arrayed against us in spiritual conflict. Let us be diligent to watch and pray.
Illustration
Martin Luther, when the devil came to him and asked him to open the
door of his heart so that he could come in and discuss some very important
matters with Him, said "I don't have the keys to the door; God has them.
Ask Him if you wish." See: James 4:7-8
APPLICATION:
God is in charge. He allows Satan to seem at times to be in control.
But the final authority is God.
III. WE KNOW ABOUT THE . .SON AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 20
EXPLANATION:
A. WE KNOW THE MESSIAH HAS COME
B. WE KNOW THE SON GIVES UNDERSTANDING.
1. TO KNOW HIM.
2. TO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM.
ILLUSTRATION:
At one time at the City Temple in London, there was in the congregation
a restaurateur named Emil Mettler, who was a close friend of Albert Schweitzer
and a kind of agent for Schweitzer in Britain. Mettler would never allow
a Christian worker to pay for a meal in his restaurant but once he did
happen to open his cash register in the presence of a Secretary of the
London Missionary Society. The Secretary was astonished to see among the
bills and coins a six-inch nail. What was it doing there? Mettler explained,
"I keep this nail with my money to remind me of the price that Christ paid
for my salvation and of what I owe Him in return."
APPLICATION:
We know about the Son. We can have a growing knowledge of
the Son
IV. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUMMARY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 21
EXPLANATION: Idol equals anything taking the place reserved for God.
1. We are to guard ourselves.
2. Other passages of scripture say we are guarded.
John 17:12
12 "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou
hast given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the
son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (NAS)
2 Tim 1:12
12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed;
for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard
what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (NAS)
ILLUSTRATION:
When Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India, his conquering forces entered
a celebrated temple to destroy it. He was entreated by the priest to spare
a certain idol but refused. Instead, he rained repeated blows upon it.
Suddenly the image burst open, and a stream of precious stones cascaded
from its hollow interior. So, too, for each idol the Christian destroys
in his life, he gains more than he loses! Every one that is demolished
brings him new treasures of grace and removes another hindrance to a productive
life of prayer!
APPLICATION:
O. J. Simpson made an Idol of a white woman. Because His Idol took the
place reserved for God unhappiness set in. He got to a place where he could
not control everything. He did not heed the words of this verse
1. WE KNOW ABOUT SIN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 18
2. WE KNOW ABOUT SATAN AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 19
3. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SON AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 20
4. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUMMARY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH. v 21